Prospect Info: Maxim Strbak, RD, Sioux Falls (USHL) - Selection 45OA, 2023

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The development of a defensive dman won't be pretty with points, but this kid once developed is going to be EXACTLY what Buffalo needs.

He and Komarov are the RHD they need in the system who can be steady stay-at-home guys with some snarl in puck battles that all the more offensively minded d-men can use as partners. I'm interested to see how those two (and the lefty Novikov) develop over the next couple years.
 
Good we got another Michigan State prospect in Pat Geary to keep Strbak company. Keep talking about Buffalo and build the expectation of being here. Like him as a prospect and think he can help in a couple of years. Always a little worried about taking NCAA guys who are expected to stay in school for a while
 
Good we got another Michigan State prospect in Pat Geary to keep Strbak company. Keep talking about Buffalo and build the expectation of being here. Like him as a prospect and think he can help in a couple of years. Always a little worried about taking NCAA guys who are expected to stay in school for a while
Even better they’re roommates. Or at least they were last season.
 
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I think you mean Komarov
I don't know Russian but I think it's spelled Novikov

Only because he's a year ahead in development.
All good defenders.
I see Novikov as more steady offensively but maybe not a ton of flash.

Komarov I see as the opposite but the sky is the limit if he can fix his wheels.

Maxim that modern steady, reliable bottom pairing guy that doesn't play hot potato but won't rack up a bunch of points.
 
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Given how slow his start was he’ll need to come out of gate blasting to bypass the AHL. I don’t see it happening.
 
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I don't think Strbak is ever going to pop off the score sheet. I think he might have some offensive potential still as shown by his sharp production increase when playing for Slovakia, but I think he settles in as a defensive stay at home type of player. I still stand by that his closest comparable is probably a slightly shorter but equally as effective Erik Cernak type of player. Expect 10-20pts from him a season at the NHL level at best but likely a beast on the PK and defensive side of the game who will be a nightmare to play against for opponents. Watched him play in college a bit last season and there's no denying his smarts and stamina when it comes to defending. Saw him play a full 4 minute PK without looking particularly gassed, the guy was still blocking and checking at the end of that shift and completed a successful kill. Stuff like that is his bread and butter and he'll be a warrior at the NHL level, a type of dman that every team loves to have.

I can see Strbak make the NHL after another year of college and then a year in Rochester, kind of like Sammy, and then I envision him as being a mainstay RHD anchor on the 2nd or 3rd pair.

It's worth noting that with Levshunov going pro, Strbak is now likely going to be Michigan's #1 dman. This is going to be a big year for him development wise and if he runs away with the increased icetime and opportunity by growing his offensive game, he's going to be a prospect to keep an eye on.
 
Seems like he and Geary bounced back in the win. The 2nd GF for MSU us a nice left wall pinch from Geary to keep the play going, rims it around to Strbak on the far point for a keep before the play goes back into the LW corner.

 
Ended up heading up to the Detroit area early to avoid bad weather and used connections to get tickets for the sold out USA NTDP U18 - Michigan State game. Strbak and Geary are sometimes paired together which is fun.

Geary is #2 and Strbak is #8.

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watched a decent amount of Sparty this weekend (maybe 60 min. combined between the two games so I definitely didn't see it all, but thought this topic could use a bump

I was hyper fixated on him and it was easy because at his size and the way he moves he just naturally stands out. He was physical, throwing the occasional check and using his body well to steer forwards away from the goal.

He effectively got Sparty up the ice when he had the puck and got the game tying goal late in the third on Friday when he scored on an unscreened wrister at the top of the circles against a good goalie (Calgary prospect). I am shocked he doesn't have better offensive output.

He did have one major gaffe on Friday in overtime when he turned over the puck, but it didn't result in a goal. It looked to be a fatigue error rather than a skill deficiency.

I know the idea is he is going back to school, but with that right-handed shot, I would consider getting him under contract with the "cup of coffee" games at the end of the NHL schedule if things align.

Sparty tied Friday (lost in a shootout) and lost today after PSU scored twice in the first 2 minutes and their goalie stood on his head. Minnesota jumps MSU for first place in the conference and someone will surely jump MSU at first place in the polls after failing to win either game on home ice
 

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