Sabres select Hamburg native Patrick Geary in sixth round of NHL Draft

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Patrick Geary was sitting on his couch with his family in Hamburg Saturday afternoon when he was selected to his hometown team.

“I saw Buffalo only had one pick in the sixth round, so I was kind of hoping that would be the case,” Geary said. “I looked down before a name came out, just so I wouldn’t look directly at it, and then I looked up and saw my name, so I was pretty excited.”

The 6-foot-1 defenseman is a product of the Buffalo Junior Sabres and later played in the USHL before attending Michigan State University.

“A great story,” Sabres assistant general manager Jerry Forton said. “Another top-tier player. He’s got a few years left at Michigan State and being a Buffalo kid is a bonus, and obviously we know his character inside and out.”

As Geary enters his second year with the Spartans hockey team, he now also joins Sabres 2023 second-round selection Max Strbak.

“I’ve lived next door to him all year, so I’ve gotten to know him pretty well,” Geary said. “He’s a young kid, but he’s mature for his age. He sees the ice a little differently and he’s a little more offensive than I am. He helps me out in that way.”

“I just sent him a congratulatory message and I’m very happy,” Strbak said. “Of course, he’s from Buffalo, so I guess for him it’s something important for him and his family.”

As Geary continues to soak in the reality of development camp this week at LECOM Harborcenter, he’s already taken some time to reflect on his favorite memories in Buffalo where he’ll now have the opportunity to kick off his professional career.

“I just go to the games,” Geary said. “I mean, I mean, I go to sold-out crowds. What better place to be? Playing hockey in Buffalo, that’s the place I’d rather be.”

The Sabres development camp concludes Thursday morning with a 3v3 tournament starting at 9:15 a.m.