Sabres sign Gavin McCarthy to three-year entry-level contract
The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Gavin McCarthy to a three-year, entry-level contract.
We have signed defenseman Gavin McCarthy to a three-year, entry-level contract. #LetsGoBuffalo
McCarthy’s contract comes in at a $1,007,500 cap hit, and will begin in the 2026-27 season. His salary comes just $17,500 under the maximum compensation set for entry-level contacts in the 2026-27 season.
The Sabres have not confirmed whether he will report to Buffalo or to their minor-league affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Considering the defensive depth the Sabres already boast, it’s more likely McCarthy ends up in the AHL. If McCarthy were to play in the AHL, he would either need to sign an AHL contract for the season, or sign an AHL professional tryout contract, since his ELC does not begin until the start of the 2026-27 season.
McCarthy was the Sabres’ third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, selecting him 86th overall. Drafted out of the USHL, he committed to Boston University after the draft, spending three seasons with the team before signing his ELC on Tuesday. In his final season with Boston University, he had four goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 36 games, setting a career-high for points in a collegiate season for him.
Boston University finished their season in sixth place in the Hockey East Conference, with a 15-12-2 record within their conference, and a 17-17-2 record overall.
Daily Faceoff prospect expert Steven Ellis had this to say about McCarthy’s game in his 2023 NHL Draft rankings, projecting the defenseman to go 64th overall at the time.
“The best way to describe McCarthy’s game? Raw. We didn’t get to see his full potential due to an injury, but there was enough intriguing elements at both ends of the ice that’ll keep you intrigued. He can hit hard, isn’t afraid to shoot and reads plays well. But like many others this deep, McCarthy’s skating needs improvement.”
McCarthy is one of many collegiate players to sign with their drafted NHL teams today, although he’s the first signing by the Sabres.