Ryan Miller is a household name in hockey — an All-American, a Hobey Baker winner, and a goaltender who will be remembered as one of the all-time greats.
As the backbone of one of Michigan State University hockey’s greatest seasons — where the team went 23-7-0 in 2000-2001—Miller became one of many Spartan legends to spend time with the Buffalo Sabres organization after an accolade-filled collegiate career.
That legacy continues today.
Sophomore defensive pairing made up of Maxim Štrbák and Patrick Geary compile the Sabres prospects represented in the green and white in current time. Not only are the two linemates, but roommates who have developed together on and off the ice.
“We just connected right away, last night we were actually talking about (Štrbák’s) first time coming here and it’s just crazy how we just all kind of came in and our apartment, we connected really well,” Geary said. “I think that helped me and him get closer… I think just hanging out in the apartment, cooking food, watching shows, movies, playing Xbox, it all grows and just translated on the ice.”
Since arriving at MSU, both players have seen exponential growth. Geary was a healthy scratch for six games early in his freshman year, while Štrbák started on the third defensive line. Now, just a season later, they’ve stepped into the roles once held by Nash Nienhuis and Artyom Levshunov, becoming MSU’s top defensive pairing and regular starters.
“We knew we had a high ceiling to keep improving, specifically our back end, we have some youth back there and those guys have done a heck of a job," head coach Adam Nightingale said about the pair. “They play a ton of minutes, they play hard minutes, they play real hockey. When you talk about defensemen and being a real defenseman, I think those two guys are real defensemen. Their game will translate to the next level, and they continue to grow.”
While they’ve developed chemistry at MSU, their paths to collegiate hockey were vastly different.
One thing they shared: both had to make the difficult transition from the United States Hockey League (USHL) to Big Ten hockey.
“It’s not the easiest jump to play college. Geary, last year at the start, he wasn’t even playing as much and kind of trusted the process and when he got the chance, he took it and never looked back,” Štrbák said. “But it is hard, it’s not easy, but (Geary) said it, we were surrounded by the right people. We just have to trust them, trust in everything, what they’re doing and if there’s a chance just try and take it and be consistent with everything that we do on the ice.”
Štrbák, a Košice, Slovakia native, came to the U.S. after a year in Finland’s Jokerit junior system. He then transitioned to the USHL, playing his final junior season with the Sioux Falls Stampede, where he tallied five goals and 13 assists. His performance earned him a second-round selection by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2023 NHL Draft, and he quickly found his place on MSU’s blue line.
Geary’s journey was different. The 6-foot-1 Buffalo, New York, native and Buffalo Junior Sabres alum took his talents to the USHL, where he played two seasons with the Waterloo Blackhawks, recording seven goals and 23 assists.
Just as he did early in his MSU career, Geary had to earn his spot in the lineup, rotating in and out of games in juniors before securing a full-time role.
“It was tough in the beginning, but I got scratched in juniors as well, I wasn’t playing in juniors,” Geary said. “I knew what I had to do going in. You never put your head down, especially here, you really can't, you can’t hide here, you’re getting pushed every day, so I’m very thankful that happened, it’s a good thing for me to look back on, especially playing in the future.”
After sitting out six games as a freshman, Geary worked tirelessly to earn his place in the lineup. His perseverance paid off when he received an invite to try out for Team USA at the 2023-24 IIHF World Juniors, cementing himself as a reliable defensive presence for the Spartans.
Geary etched his name in MSU history as a freshman, scoring the game-winning goal in sudden-death overtime against rival Michigan to secure the Big Ten Tournament championship.
Geary’s hard work paid off on June 29, 2024, when he received a call from Buffalo development coach Tim Kennedy—a former Spartan and 2007 national champion—informing him that he had been selected 172nd overall in the sixth round of the NHL Draft by his hometown Buffalo Sabres.
Kennedy, himself a product of the Sabres system, acknowledged the deep-rooted connection between MSU and Buffalo.
Growing up attending Sabres games and playing in their junior program, Geary never imagined he’d be drafted by his hometown team. Seeing his name pop up after the call made for a surreal moment.
“It was surreal, and the call came from Tim Kennedy, so once I saw his name pop up I kind of had expected what was happening,” Geary said. “It was special for sure, I think it’s a day I’ll look back on, especially with my family, forever.”
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A year into his own journey as a Sabres prospect, Štrbák was at Buffalo’s development camp when Geary’s name appeared on the draft broadcast — news that instantly excited him for the future.
“I was in Buffalo already for development camp and they had the draft the day before that and they had the draft on and all of a sudden I just see Geary,” Štrbák said. “I went a little crazy, I texted him and the next day he was there. I was super pumped and him being from Buffalo, it’s super special for him.”
Now part of the same prospect pool, both players share the possibility of one day playing together in Buffalo. But first, their focus remains on developing their skills at MSU and earning their shot at the next level.
“It’s about getting there, to the next step,” Štrbák said. “Obviously here we’re super pumped with our season and everything we’re doing. We’ve had a great season, but to possibly have that in the future, to step in there and try to play at the highest level, it’d be a great thing.”
From Kennedy to Geary, Štrbák and Miller, MSU continues to have a strong presence in the Sabres organization, with each player carrying the program’s hardworking mentality to the professional level.
Reaching the NHL — the ultimate dream for every young hockey player.
“I think it’s worked out great for those guys because there’s two kids going through school at the same time, kind of on the same journey and hopefully they play as teammates for a very long time,” Kennedy said.
As Geary and Štrbák continue their journey at MSU, their sights remain set on development and a future in Buffalo. With a legacy of Spartans thriving in the Sabres organization, the duo hopes to be the next to make the leap from East Lansing to the NHL, carrying the Spartan work ethic with them.
