Nashville, Tenn. (WGR 550) - With their second pick of Round 2, 45th overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Buffalo Sabres add to their blueline depth with the selection of defensemen Maxim Štrbák from the Sioux Falls Stampede in the United States Hockey League (USHL).
In his first full season playing in North America with the Stampede, the native of Kosice, Slovakia managed to score five goals and add 13 assists for 18 points in 46 games played.
The right-shot defensemen was also the team captain for Slovakia at the 2023 IIHF U-18 World Championship, recording six points (0+6) in seven games. That's on top of representing the Slovaks at the last two IIHF World Junior Championships as a 16- and 17-year-old.
Štrbák also earned a silver medal with Slovakia at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
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Štrbák is the latest Slovakian prospect to become a high selection of a team at the NHL Draft.
Last year saw Juraj Slafkovsky (No. 1 overall - Montreal Canadiens), Simon Nemec (No. 2 overall - New Jersey Devils) and Filip Mesar (No. 26 overall - Canadiens) going in Round 1 of the draft. This year, Štrbák was the fourth Slovak off the board after Dalibor Dvorsky (No. 10 overall - St. Louis Blues), Samuel Honzek (No. 16 overall - Calgary Flames) and Adam Gajan (No. 35 overall - Chicago Blackhawks).
Here is what Elite Prospects had to say about the 6-foot-2, 198-pound defenseman:
"Maxim Štrbák is a two-way defenseman with dynamic skating and plays a highly creative game. He tries to make plays with every puck touch. A spin move here, a dangle there, and many slip passes. He’s got high compete, excels at getting the puck out, and is good in transition."
Štrbák does have some past ties to the NHL as his father, Martin, appeared in 49 games with the Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2003-04 season.
