RD Maxim Strbak - Michigan State Univ, NCAA (2023, 45th, BUF)

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Looks like a player who has a very high probability of being a 2nd pairing D in the NHL.

 

[Egresch]

Looks like a player who has a very high probability of being a 2nd pairing D in the NHL.

Absolutely, he is better than Cernak was at his age and he steadily progressing.

 

[10robinho10]

Maxim Strbak revealed 3 NHL teams with the most interest of him. He also confirmed he will take part at NHL Combine

 

[tobu]

Maxim Strbak revealed 3 NHL teams with the most interest of him. He also confirmed he will take part at NHL Combine

So you don't have to seach in the article, the 3 teams were Arizona, Boston and Seattle

 

[shotvalley]

So you don't have to seach in the article, the 3 teams were Arizona, Boston and Seattle

I surely do know now - after this article has been spammed in at least 7 different threads.

Hfboards became much more user friendly when i started to hide some users and threads. A warm recommendation for everyone.

 

[Antiillafire]

#33 on Bob Mckenzie’s final list. Which would leave him one pick outside the first round. It’s interesting he’s listed way higher here than on non-NHL industry lists.

 

[William H Bonney]

Interested to see if he sneaks into the 1st. It might be a stretch in a good draft for defensemen but as an RHD with plus size (and he's a good prospect, too) in a weak draft year for defensemen, we are going to defensemen go higher than expected.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

If Flames can get either him or Lindstein in the 2nd round I'd be ecstatic.

 

[Mrfenn92]

35 to the hawks please

 

[TK 421]

I want the Blues to jump up on Strbak at either 25 or 29. Excited to see how he develops at Michigan State next year and I'll be following him closely.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Strbak is the guy i hope the Habs draft at 31OA. Exactly the type of dman they need and RHD as well.

 

[Petes2424]

I thought he wound up our best dman by the end of the tournament, which isn’t saying much because of how weak it was overall. But still, thought he got better as the tournament went along. Ended up playing over 21 mins against Finland. I am looking forward to seeing his progress at the December tournament.

This one highlight of the kid says so much about the way his mind works, his muscle memory and his first what we used to call reverse stride for dmen. Don’t think he gets passed a lot of teams early in the 2nd. Perfect type pick for Vegas at 32.

Not sure he’ll ever carry the play, but he has very high supporting Dman written all over him. What teams will love is his first move to relieve pressure. He has several of them and it happens naturally. That goes back to his muscle memory. Which out of every Dman in this draft, is right there with ASP and Caden Price. That will lead teams to think he can carry a pair.

When he plays with confidence, there really isn’t much debate. He’s the real deal at this age. It’s when he doesn’t play with confidence, things seem to go sideways. That’s always a concern.

 

[Grinner]

I'd be stoked if the Sharks picked him at 36

 

[Michoulicious]

I'd be stoked if the Sharks picked him at 36

He is my target for Montreal's #31 or #37. Big, RHD... Bonus: another Slovak!
Certainly fills a need.

If Montreal somehow drafts Dvorsky and Strbak after drafting Slafkovsky and Mesar, that'd be hilarious... Then Alex Cziernik in the 3rd because gotta catch'em all.

 

[S E P H]

Very raw, but I am a believer in him and that his offensive game will eventually find form. He should become a solid enough two-way defenceman with great mobility and an eye for the game. Not first-pairing material - rarely few are - but should be a solid mid-pairing defenceman. If I was a team with multiple picks, I would have no issue taking him in the twenties of the first round.

 

[Boris Le Tigre]

Hope the Habs take him with 31.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Hope the Habs don't take him.

 

[Petes2424]

Very raw, but I am a believer in him and that his offensive game will eventually find form. He should become a solid enough two-way defenceman with great mobility and an eye for the game. Not first-pairing material - rarely few are - but should be a solid mid-pairing defenceman. If I was a team with multiple picks, I would have no issue taking him in the twenties of the first round.

Think that’s the question with him. Will his offensive game ever get there? It’s worth the high pick on him though because he has a really good shot at being a high end role player anyway. Even if it’s just being a really good retriever who moves the puck. It’ll be interesting to see too, as he ultimately turns pro and the game gets more physical, if his mean streak comes out a little more too. It’s subtle, but it’s there when he’s playing with confidence. If his offensive game comes it’s bonus. Just a really solid prospect.

 

[MMC]

Welcome to Buffalo

 

[William H Bonney]

Great value at this spot for Buffalo

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

My scouting report on this guy from this season.

Kind of played as I expected. Good size, skates well, pretty reliable defensively, although he’s not some stalwart at this point. His puck game is inconsistent. He can occasionally show some nice handling and has a good shot, but he throws away the puck easily too often and then he’s not the most aggressive either. He also should be playing more physical. He’s already over 200 pounds, but sometimes I feel he physically looks his age out there. That’s not to say he’s soft. He can make some hits and win some battles, but he should be throwing his weight out there and playing a more physical game more consistently. He looks a little tentative and green in that part of the game sometimes for a player who has those physical capabilities and shows that at times. I think that’s going to also have to be part of his game as he moves up the ladder. I could see a small chance for a team that lacks offensive talent that he’s PP2, but otherwise I don’t see him being anything more than a defensive defenseman. His game projects well though to the NHL. Good chance he’s like a 4 or 5 with slightly more upside. I’d say he’ll be a late first or early second.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Slovakia's Maxim Strbak is making a statement at world juniors

Defenseman Maxim Strbak is playing a big role with Slovakia's national team at the world juniors and in his freshman year at Michigan State.

theathletic.com

 

[LeProspector]

Holy hell does he look good at the WJC

 

[TK 421]

This was my guy in the '23 draft, ended up with Lindstein which eases my suffering but I'm greedy and I wanted both. Glad to see him doing well and looking forward to seeing how he does as an NHLer.

 

[Goldenhands]

I had him 20th on my list, no clue how this kid could drop mid second, he is a surefire top 4 defenseman, just so well rounded out there.