Sabres fans might get peek at future as McDavid visits
More than 10,000 Buffalo Sabres fans are expected in First Niagara Center arena Wednesday to see Canadian super prospect Connor McDavid play in what could be a preview of coming attractions.
McDavid is considered a franchise prospect, and the rebuilding Sabres are in contention to land the Ontario Hockey League center. His Erie Otters will play the Niagara Ice Dogs in an OHL regular-season game. It's plausible that McDavid could be playing for the Sabres next season.
"Our fans know that we have three first-round picks next year and two second-round picks," Sabres President Ted Black told USA TODAY Sports. "There is a lot of anticipation over the next several months."
Black said if there was a strong walk-up sale, the crowd could reach 12,000.
"It's part of our overall strategy to make Buffalo a hockey destination," Black said. "If we had a banner above our door, it would be: 'All roads to the NHL go through Buffalo.'"
McDavid and American center Jack Eichel (Boston University) are considered generational players, and Buffalo fans were able to see Eichel recently in the All-American Prospects Game at First Niagara Center. Roughly 8,000 fans attended that game.
This will be the first OHL game played at the arena. About 15% of Buffalo's fan base comes from Ontario. This game isn't solely about McDavid, although 35 NHL scouts requested credentials.
"Buffalo is a very strong hockey market, and this was in our wheelhouse to start with," Black said.
Black called the scheduling of the event a perfect storm because of McDavid's fame, Erie's close proximity to Buffalo and the Sabres being in rebuilding mode. The Sabres, last in the NHL last season, are 1-5 this season.
The top contenders in the McDavid-Eichel sweepstakes (every non-playoff team has a shot to pick first because of the lottery, but the team with the worst record is guaranteed to get one of those players):
1. Buffalo (1-5): The Sabres have scored eight goals in six games, and over the next four days they play on the road against the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.
2. Carolina Hurricanes (0-3-2): The Hurricanes were the last NHL team without a victory. Jordan Staal is out for three months with a broken leg, plus Eric Staal, Nathan Gerbe and John-Michael Liles are injured. Jeff Skinner and Andrej Sekera returned Tuesday.
3. Florida Panthers (2-2-2): With five goals in their first five games, the Panthers needed to prove they are not offensively challenged. They responded with a 4-3 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche. Goalie Roberto Luongo, however, is their best hope of staying out of the McDavid-Eichel sweepstakes.
4. Edmonton Oilers (1-4-1): If the Oilers play as well as they did in Monday's 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, they will move up the standings. But even with that rousing win, they have given up 27 goals in six games. The Oilers' key will be the play of goaltender Ben Scrivens, who was sharp vs. Tampa Bay.
5. Winnipeg Jets (2-4): The Jets played at a playoff pace last season after coach Paul Maurice's hiring in January, but they have not impressed this season. They scored two goals in a four-game losing streak before beating the Hurricanes 3-1 on Tuesday. The Jets, in the midst of a five-game homestand, have no power-play goals this season.