Jack Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award on Friday. ©2015, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sabres clinch 30th place, guaranteed Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel

Either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel will play for the Buffalo Sabres next season.

Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets clinched 30th place for the rebuilding Sabres, meaning they can fall no lower than second during the NHL Draft Lottery next Saturday and select one of the prized 18-year-old centers in June.

The Sabres have a 20 percent chance of getting McDavid, hockey’s biggest prospect since Sidney Crosby.

On Friday, about 240 miles from Columbus, McDavid was giving perhaps the most electrifying performance of his three-year junior career in Erie, scoring five goals in the Otters’ 7-3 second-round Ontario Hockey League playoff win against the London Knights.

Earlier in the day, Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player. His Boston University Terriers play for the national championship tonight.

The Sabres host Crosby and the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins tonight. The Penguins must win the season finale to make the playoffs.

One thought on “Sabres clinch 30th place, guaranteed Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel”

  1. Yea, this is just what we’ve struggled for all this
    year and now it’s finally coming to fruition with
    the prize in hand of Mcdavid or Eichel plus we
    already have Rienhart in Rochester waiting
    for his turn to shine plus we have another load
    of draft picks again this year, so it’s not going to
    be long before were back on top! SABRES #1
    Forever!

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