Prospects Showcase | McCarthy, Dumont, Szongoth stand out for Sabres

Hockey season in Buffalo unofficially began Sunday evening at LECOM Harborcenter with Game 1 of the Prospects Showcase. The Sabres’ prospects lost to the Bruins’, 6-2, followed by a no-stakes shootout to end the night.

“We won the shootout,” joked coach Michael Leone, whose Rochester Americans staff is running the show this weekend.

Understandably, with unfamiliar teammates and this being everyone’s first game action in months, play was a bit choppy, with lots of bouncing pucks, rebounds and turnovers for both sides.

Before the Prospects Showcase wraps up Monday at 12 p.m., here are some notes and takeaways from Sunday.

McCarthy’s physicality

Defenseman Gavin McCarthy is no stranger to LECOM Harborcenter, but this was his first game on the rink since the 2020-21 season with the 16U Junior Sabres.

“Really cool to put the logo back on and represent the Buffalo Sabres out there,” he said. “It was something super special, for sure.”

• From Saturday: McCarthy and Richard, rivals turned roomates

The 21-year-old, a third-round pick in 2023, showed some great physicality Sunday. He delivered a huge open-ice hit in the defensive zone, broke up a James Hagens chance in the slot, won some wall battles and, in the third, ran over Bruins goalie Max Lundgren.

McCarthy will join the Amerks full time after a five-game pro debut this spring. The AHL is a much tougher, more physical environment than this weekend’s exhibitions, but the 6-foot-2, 194-pound blueliner looks to have the tools to hold up in Rochester.

“I thought Gav had a great summer, we saw it in practice,” Leone said. “I think he got quicker, I think he got stronger. Played really physical today. I thought he had a solid night.”

Dumont, Szongoth debut

Forward Dylan Dumont, the Sabres’ sixth-round pick this year, had a nice offensive night as he factored into both Buffalo goals. On the first, he corralled a rebound and roofed it from a tough angle. On the other, during a second-period power play, he made a cross-slot feed to Doman Szongoth, who ripped a shot from the right dot.

“I think it’s amazing to play in the Sabres jersey,” Dumont said of his unofficial organizational debut. “It’s a dream come true.”

Dumont, 18, is set to begin his second season with Drummondville in the QMJHL, where last year he had 44 points in 62 games.

Szongoth, taken shortly before Dumont in the fifth round, also contributed a lunging shot block off his foot, some faceoff wins and a goal in the shootout. The fourth Hungarian ever drafted to the NHL, he’s headed to Sault Ste. Marie for his first OHL season.

Ratzlaff in net

Goalie Scott Ratzlaff got the start for Buffalo. Despite some nice breakaway stops, he allowed five goals on 27 shots and was pulled after two periods.

Talyn Boyko entered in relief and made six third-period saves. The 23-year-old free agent, a fourth-round pick by the Rangers in 2021, has some pro experience in both the AHL (11 games) and ECHL (61).

Hagens scores a couple

One player didn’t quite belong on this ice Sunday, and that was Hagens. Taken seventh overall in 2025 – two picks before Buffalo’s Radim Mrtka – the former Boston College Eagle made his NHL debut this spring and played Games 1-3 of the first-round series against the Sabres.

That pedigree showed with a pair of goals – he beat both Ratzlaff and Boyko cleanly – and some additional scoring chances. Ask Leone, and it’s nice to have that extra challenge at an event like this.

“Oh, yeah. I mean, he played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s a very talented player,” said the Amerks’ coach. “I know him from the national program. I’m sure if you ask him, he was pretty quiet in the first period, and I think he woke up. When the puck’s on his stick and you give him time and space… He’s going to be a really good player for a long time.”

Postgame sound