Sabres lose out in draft lottery.

[cheekman]

Do we win anything in this area when it comes to sports? "The Sabres lost all season on the ice, so it’s little surprise they lost a lottery, too"

The Oilers bucked the odds Saturday night in Toronto by winning the NHL draft lottery for the No. 1 pick. The Oilers had an 11.5 percent chance of winning based on their 28th-place finish this season. At 20 percent, the Buffalo Sabres had the best odds to win.
Despite the continuing run of bad luck, Buffalo will select in the top five for only the second time since 1987. They took Thomas Vanek fifth overall in 2003.Buffalo became the 13th last-place team in 19 lotteries to lose the weighted contest. Florida finished at the bottom last year, but Colorado won the lottery to bump the Panthers to second. They’ll get the top spot this year.

“Very good day for the Panthers,” said Travis Viola, the vice president of hockey operations.
SCARBOROUGH, Ont. – Tim Murray’s expression didn’t change as NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly unveiled the Florida Panthers as the winners of the draft lottery. The Sabres’ general manager had played out the scenarios in his head during the drive north from Buffalo, and he figured someone would leapfrog his last-place club and draft first overall.

He was right. The Sabres lost all season on the ice, so it’s little surprise they lost a lottery, too.

[HipKat]

Oilers have had 3 #1 picks in the last 4 years, I think it is, and they still suck. No matter who we get, Eichel or whoever, he better be ready to step in and play, not languish in Rochester

[Mr. Lackawanna]

What if Jack Eichel decides to stay in college. Would his rights remain with the Sabres?

[mikenold]

Oilers have had 3 #1 picks in the last 4 years, I think it is, and they still suck. No matter who we get, Eichel or whoever, he better be ready to step in and play, not languish in Rochester

I believe 4 number 1s in the last 6 years for Edmonton. Eichel will play. If he stays in college the Sabres still retain his rights till he's ready to play. He is a very good player.

[Riven37]

It was fixed and don't think Eichel will come here he will play college instead of going Pro; he will spend at least 3 seasons in Rochester if he went Pro before seeing Buffalo ice therefore, Sabres lost big time again, Fixed. also the buffalo Fan base would be very selfish if they try to force Eichel to come here instead of obtaining his college education especially in this day and age, just saying.

[Ileftchktg]

McDavid is what the sabres needed to build this team around but then again there not much of a team. All the hype for months from the media about its a sure thing we get this guy, there is no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to professional sports in Buffalo. My view on Eichel not the guy they wanted, he could be ok but not a superstar, and has a long way to mature to be a pro.

[Jeff]

What if Jack Eichel decides to stay in college. Would his rights remain with the Sabres?

Yes they would.

[Jeff]

McDavid is what the sabres needed to build this team around but then again there not much of a team. All the hype for months from the media about its a sure thing we get this guy, there is no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to professional sports in Buffalo. My view on Eichel not the guy they wanted, he could be ok but not a superstar, and has a long way to mature to be a pro.

It was never about McDavid and always about guaranteeing at least the second pick. No idea where you heard otherwise. Eichel is a stud, probably more suited to start in the NHL now than McDavid.

[mikenold]

It was never about McDavid and always about guaranteeing at least the second pick. No idea where you heard otherwise. Eichel is a stud, probably more suited to start in the NHL now than McDavid.

Correct and Eichel is also a year older which means he is a year more ready to play.