I love hockey. I REALLY love hockey. No other sport provides what hockey does.
First off, hockey is the only sport which requires a human being to come completely out of their element. Artificial hands - a stick. Artificial feet - skates. Artificial surface - ice.
Watching top notch hockey talent is a spectacle. Who doesn't remember watching Dominik Hasek contort his body to make saves that no one else in the world could make? There was a feeling of honor when you watched him play. ( I might listen to someone argue that same thing for Ryan Miller in his prime.)
Hockey also offers a sound that no other sport can. The ice reflects every sound from the rink. In what other sport can you hear player chatter? Lindy Ruff whistle for a line change? A goalie slap his stick on the ice to signal the end of a penalty? A linesman scream "no" to signal the play is onside? The puck hitting the boards or the post? The skates gliding along the ice and scraping as a player stops?
Enough sentiment.
Let's talk about our beloved Buffalo Sabres.
This team has been bad for a long time. Even in years (post Drury/Briere) when they were sniffing at the playoffs and we had high hopes for Stanley Cups, they were a bad team. Many years of finishing in 9th place still ring in the chasms of my brain.
Something is different now.
This team is losing differently. They aren't vying for 9th place, they're vying for last. They have a legitimate shot at a generational player in Connor McDavid.
McDavid would absolutely turn this team (and this city) around. Look at flipping Sidney Crosby. That guy may just be leading the resurgence of hockey in the United States. I can't stand him, especially since the Ice Bowl...and the Olympics...and every time Pittsburgh plays Buffalo. But none of that can change the fact that he's an amazing talent.
For those of you who say that draft picks don't guarantee cups, you're right. But don't forget about Chicago and Pittsburgh. Toews? Kane? Crosby? Malkin? Fleury? (Fleury isn't great, but has been a winner!)
The sheer quantity of draft picks that the Sabres own should guarantee a winning team. Between prospects that are already in the system like Armia, Grigorenko, Girgensons, Pysyk, Ristolainen and Zadorov (DON'T FORGET ABOUT JUSTIN BAILEY!) and the 3 first rounds picks they have this offseason should help...and help a lot. Even if half of these prospects pan out, they'll have a handful of stars on this team. Stars win games and attract free agents.
For those of you who say "losing doesn't guarantee McDavid," kindly shut your trap. This team is not going to win a Stanley Cup. This team won't sniff a playoff spot. Then stop rooting against them losing and having a great chance and drafting McDavid. What are you going to say if they are the worst team and lose the lottery? "Haha, I told you so?" That would be stupid. EVERYONE IN THIS CITY SHOULD WANT CONNOR MCDAVID.
One of my twitter followers gets it. Derek (@dkask716) realizes that even if they don't get McDavid, they'll get Eichel, and that's a very good thing. Absolutely right, Derek.
I read on a Facebook comment from some bump-on-a-log Sabres fan "I hope McDavid and Eichel both get career ending injuries so people will stop rooting for the Sabres to lose."
Shut up.
No one is rooting for the Sabres to lose. We're all rooting for them to win. In fact, we're rooting for them to win a Stanley Cup.
Steve
@SteveBermel
pjfan201@gmail.com
