The Buffalo Sabres signed prospect Gavin McCarthy to a three-year entry-level contract this week after he wrapped up a standout college career at Boston University. The defenseman then inked an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL's Rochester Americans for the remainder of the season.
McCarthy, a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, is expected join the Amerks lineup soon, and he should have enough time to acclimate himself to the rigors of pro hockey before the team's expected appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Rochester currently occupies the final postseason position in the North Division with a 25-23-5-4 record (59 points). It's three points ahead of the Belleville Senators for that last spot but also has four games in hand over Ottawa's AHL affiliate.
The Amerks have been struggling as of late, including a 1-6-1-2 over their last 10 days, so an infusion of talent for the collegiate ranks comes at a perfect time to provide a spark.
Gavin McCarthy could become a Rochester Americans cornerstone while trying to become a future member of the Buffalo Sabres' blue line
The Americans' roster has been in a state of flux for a majority of the campaign, in large part because of the Sabres needing consistent recalls to overcome injuries. The Amerks withstood the challenges early on, but it's started to catch up with them lately.
McCarthy should help bring some stability to the team's defense corps, which have struggled to limit scoring chances since Zach Metsa shuffled off to Buffalo. Metsa has emerged as a dependable piece for Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, so a return to Rochester this season is highly unlikely.
The BU product has a similar skill set to Metsa. While he's a modest offensive contributor, his biggest strengths are his defensive awareness, hockey IQ and vision to jump-start transition opportunities.
McCarthy, a 20-year-old Buffalo-area native (Clarence Center), recorded 42 points (eight goals and 34 assists) and a plus-27 rating across 115 college hockey appearances for the Terriers. He also served as the team's captain for the 2025-26 season.
Before the campaign started, BU head coach Jay Pandolfo, who played nearly 900 games in the NHL, explained what impressed him most about the 6-foot-2 defender.
"He's really good defensively, really good on the penalty kill," Pandolfo told Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald. "... He'll eat minutes, kill penalties. You can play him against the other team's top player because he defends really well. That's the one area he's gotten a lot better is his stick and his angles, because he's long."
Although it's unclear what type of role McCarthy will play right away in Rochester — he'll likely have to prove himself before earning any minutes on the penalty kill — that scouting report represents exactly the type of player the Americans could use.
A little more steadiness on the blue line would go a long way for the Amerks, which have struggled keeping the puck out of the net lately.
Beyond this season, McCarthy is likely looking at a multiyear stay in Rochester to continue his development. He made a lot of progress across his three seasons at BU, but he's probably still a couple campaigns away from achieving the NHL-ready label.
He currently projects as a third-pair defenseman once he reaches Buffalo, though it's possible he could crack the top four if he's offensive game takes a leap forward during his stay with the Amerks.
Getting some experience with Rochester now — the AHL club has 15 games left in the regular season, ideally followed a decent playoff run — will give him an important taste of pro hockey before the summer.
It should set the stage for McCarthy to take on a key role with the Americans next season.