Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Many of the Buffalo Sabres' prospects in the college ranks came to Sabres Development Camp last week.
Patrick Geary of Hamburg was taken in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft as an overage junior player at Michigan State University, while Clarence Center native Gavin McCarthy was a third-round pick of the team in 2023.
Geary had a disappointing end to his previous season with the Spartans, where they were upset in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Cornell University. Michigan State was either ranked first or second for 14-of-16 weeks in the national polls throughout the regular season.
Meanwhile, McCarthy will be entering his junior season at Boston University. This is his third development camp with the Sabres.
"It means something that you can just come here and show yourself, so it’s a great feeling to be back here," said McCarthy this past Tuesday.
In April, the Terriers went to the Frozen Four in St. Louis, but lost in the Championship Game to Western Michigan University. McCarthy admits it was a bit of a ride this past year.
"It was up-and-down for our whole team," McCarthy acknowledged. "We came into the season pretty highly touted, and then fell off the edge a little bit. So we had to get back on track, and I’m really proud of our group for going on that run that we did. I think everyone in our room knew we were capable of that, and it just took the whole season to get there."
The Terriers were on a streak of 7-1-1 going into the Frozen Four Final.
I wanted to know what the Sabres' development staff wanted from the defenseman going forward.
"It’s everything. Keep getting bigger, keep getting stronger, focusing on my foot speed, closing plays quicker, which I think is one of the biggest things for me," McCarthy noted.
He did say he stepped into a bigger role last season, playing more minutes for the Terriers.
McCarthy just turned 20, but goes up against guys quite a bit older than him at the college level. Last year, he played with his brother Case, who went on to play with the Hartford Wolfpack in the American Hockey League and the Bloomington Bison of the ECHL. Case McCarthy was a fourth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2019.
Gavin says he’s a better player playing against more mature competition.
"I think just playing against older guys, in college, it’s a lot different than juniors or even the CHL. There’s 23- and 24-year-olds with the average age up there at 21, 22, so they’re bigger, stronger and more mature," he said.
McCarthy played his junior hockey in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
The biggest focal point for McCarthy at Sabres Development Camp this year was working with different coaches that have been where he wants to be.
"Every time we’re able to work with these coaches, and I’ve worked with a lot of them throughout the years," McCarthy said. "Even with the Jr. Sabres, just picking their brain, seeing what they’re thinking on the ice, off the ice. They have so much to offer, and taking that back with me, it’s a gift."
Geary is a 21-year-old going into his junior season at Michigan State. He says he’s not as nervous at this year's development camp after being here last year.
"Definitely more comfortable around the rinks and around all the staff, and all the guys that you see again for the second year. So you feel more comfortable, more relaxed, and it helps you be yourself," Geary said following practice this past Tuesday.
Geary knew what to expect from this year's camp, and also knew what he’d get from it.
"You see all these guys, first- and second-round picks, and all really good players. It’s growing every day, because that’s all you can do, and take it wherever you go. Whether it’s next season or next development camp," Geary said.
Both the Sabres' staff and Michigan State’s coaching staff have goals for Geary this upcoming season.
"Getting more mature, that was the big thing with the staff at Michigan State, and it’s something I took serious over the summer," he acknowledged. "Maturing the body and getting bigger, you’ve got to be stronger, especially as a defenseman, because I’m a little undersized as a D."
Geary would also like to become a better skater heading into his junior season.
One of the Sabres' second-round picks in 2023 was defenseman Maxim Strbak, who also plays at Michigan State. Geary has enjoyed getting to know him.
"[Sabres development coach] Zach Redmond comes up to Michigan State a lot and takes me and 'Strabach' out to dinner. It's a lot of fun having 'Strabach' out there with me," Geary said.
"He couldn’t make this camp, he had some injuries over summer that he had to take care of. He’s back at school trying to get back into the grind a little bit."
Both Geary and McCarthy grew up watching and cheering for the Sabres. Geary says he’s thankful to be wearing the emblem right now.
"It’s still super special," he said. "You see this jersey and it has the last name on it, it’s kind of hard to believe, to be honest. I’ve been fortunate to workout here this summer with Ray [Magliozzi], he was great with us in the workout room. And be with Gavin, Matteo [Costantini] and Jake Richard, they were all with us. It was great."
Neither one of these players will be back in September for the Sabres Prospects Challenge, because classes and workouts with their college teams will already be ongoing.