The season is over for the Buffalo Sabres, but local hockey fans were glued to the television screen again this weekend. The NHL Draft Lottery was held in Toronto Saturday night. Having spent a season suffering through numerous, ugly losses, fans endured what could be considered one more loss as Edmonton won the top pick in the June draft.
Sabres beat writer Bill Hoppe counters that their is optimism in Sunday night's results.
"A lot of people are considering it a loss because they had a chance at Connor McDavid, the number one pick, and they didn't get it. But, in reality, I mean, they got a great consolation prize in Jack Eichel, who is the number two pick, who in any other year would be the number one pick. So, I think they walked out of there winners," said Hoppe.
Eichel is a center for Boston University, and he could return to college next year. If the Sabres draft him, the team would retain his rights should he choose to delay entering the NHL.
