March 26th, 2015 was a day that Sabres fans looked forward to, as it had massive complications for the end of the season. However, not the kind that you would expect as this was a battle for the worst record in the league.
It was such an odd night for Sabres fans as they cheered on the Coyotes that night in hopes the Sabres would lose. In a back-and-forth game, the Coyotes took home the win in overtime and were met with many cheers.
Sam Gagner netted the game-winner, and fans lined up outside the Coyotes tunnel to give him fist bumps after winning the game. Matthew Hackett the Sabres goalie that night, made 38 saves and declined to comment to the press that night.
With Sabres players in a bad mood, but fans so happy, why did this game mean so much? For the 2015 NHL Draft, the top two picks were looked at as generational talent, and possibly one the best 1st and 2nd overall picks that we had seen in about 30 to 40 years. Who were those two players again you ask, just Connor McDavid, and Jack Eichel.
Mcdavid and Eichel were looked at as Franchise Saviors
In the 2015 Draft, the Edmonton Oilers won the 1st overall pick where they selected Connor McDavid, who is without discussion the best player in the NHL still to this day. McDavid has turned this Oilers franchise around, bringing them to playoffs on more than a handful of occasions.
As well as just missing out on the team's first Stanley Cup since 1990, losing to the Florida Panthers in 2024. In his 10-year career so far, McDavid has over 1000 career points, has won the Art Ross Trophy five times, the Hart Trophy three times, the Ted Lindsey Award four times, and was a Maurice Richard and Conn Smythe Award winner.
He was the first player since 2003 to win the Conn Smythe even though his team lost the Cup finals. McDavid seems to have done it all and will be a unanimous Hall of Famer when it's all said and done.
The second pick that year went to the Buffalo Sabres, as they drafted Jack Eichel, who in most years would have been the number one overall pick. Eichel was looked at as the first step to rebuilding the Sabres back to a contender, but it didn’t work out that way. Eichel spent just over five seasons in Buffalo before requesting a trade.
Eichel then went to the Vegas Golden Knights where he won a Stanley Cup in 2023. Eichel was a 3-time All-Star in Buffalo, but never took them to the playoffs once while he was there.
It seems Sabres fans got unlucky in this one, again. Which is how things have been since the 2011 season. With another early offseason around the corner, Sabres fans can only hope and pray that this team can turn it around in the future, as it seems no one is coming to save them anytime soon.