Augustine, Štrbák Go Four Picks Apart In NHL Draft

Nashville, Tenn. -- Michigan State had two incoming freshmen selected in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft on Thursday, June 29. Goaltender Trey Augustine (South Lyon, Mich.) was selected in the second round, No. 41 overall, by the Detroit Red Wings. Four picks later, defenseman Maxim Štrbák (Kosice, Slovakia) was selected (45^th pick overall) by the Buffalo Sabres.

Augustine Draft

Augustine, a 6-1 product of the US National Team Development program, was ranked third among North American goalies in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings. Augustine's draft stock soared after a strong U18 year with the USNTDP and a gold medal at the World Championships. Augustine's accomplishments in his U18 season – a 30-1-2 record to go with a 2.13 GAA (fourth all-time in USNTDP history) and save percentage of .926 (second) – rank among the finest seasons in the history of the program. On the international stage, Augustine helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship in May behind a 2.85 GAA as well as earning a silver medal (playing for then Team-USA coach Adam Nightingale) in May 2022 at the World Championships.

Just four picks later, the Spartans had a second NHL Draft selection in Maxim Štrbák (Kosice, Slovakia). The sturdy blueliner (6-2, 205) also starred on the international stage, representing his native country at the World Juniors (2021, 2022) and World Championships in 2023. Strbak, ranked 48^th in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings, played last season in the USHL for the Sioux Falls Stampede, where he compiled 18 points and 51 PIM. He previously played for Jokerit (Finland) before coming to the States.

Augustine and Štrbák will now head to their NHL teams' development camps, which begin across the league this weekend.

MICHIGAN STATE NHL DRAFT TIDBITS

Augustine and Štrbák are the 78^th and 79^th players from Michigan State to be taken in the NHL draft. They are the 17^th and 18^th to be selected in the second round.
Augustine, as the 41^st pick, is Michigan State's highest selection since Josh Jacobs also went No. 41 overall in 2014 to the New Jersey Devils. They are the highest since Daultan Leville was selected in the first round (No. 29 overall) in 2008.
Augustine is the first Red Wings draft pick with Michigan State ties since Justin Abdelkader (Muskegon, Mich.) was picked in the 2005 entry draft (42^nd overall). Detroit took the most collegians in the 2023 draft (five).
Štrbák is the first Sabres draft pick from Michigan State since Corey Tropp was picked in the third round (89^th overall) in 2007.
MSU had two picks in the top two rounds of the same draft for the first time since 2006 (Michael Ratchuck, 42^nd, Philadelphia; Jeff Petry, 45^th, Edmonton). The last time MSU had two players selected in the same draft was the Krygier twins, in 2018 (Christian 7^th/196, New York Islanders; Cole 7^th/201, Florida Panthers)
Numerically, Augustine is tied for the 17^th highest draft pick in MSU history (tied with Josh Jacobs, who also went 41^st, in 2014).
Štrbák is tied for 21^st with Jeff Petry. Both were the 45^th overall selection.
All-time, Augustine is the eighth Michigan State player selected by the Red Wings, which is the third-most of any NHL franchise. The New York Rangers (11) and St. Louis Blues (10) are the only teams which have selected more Spartans.
Štrbák is the seventh all-time MSU pick by the Sabres, which is tied for the fourth most of any NHL franchise.

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