The prime objective among fans has become for the Sabres to bottom out to get the best chance to land one of two highly touted draft prospects.Tom Pennington/Getty Images
The Buffalo Sabres are in last place. And many of their fans are openly rooting for the standings to stay that way.
"Lose!" yelled Doug Borsuk, a 10-year season-ticket holder from the upper level during a recent Sabres' home game. "Of course it's weird. But it's ultimately for them to succeed. If they're not going to make the playoffs, they might as well finish last."
Though the Sabres don't ascribe to the sentiment, the prime objective among fans has become for the Sabres to bottom out to get the best chance to land one of two highly touted draft prospects: OHL Erie Otters centre Connor McDavid and American-born Boston University centre Jack Eichel.
The compound name "McEichel" has become a popular hashtag among Sabres fans on Twitter. Some have written letters to the editor imploring the Sabres to lose. And several hosts on the team's flagship radio station are on board by providing daily updates on the bottom end of the standings.
"You really can't hide from it," said forward Patrick Kaleta, who grew up in nearby Angola rooting for the Sabres. "I don't like it."
With 2 1/2 weeks left, the chances of Buffalo (20-46-7) finishing last hinge heavily on a two-game set against the 29th-place Arizona Coyotes (22-44-8).
The teams, who have gone a combined 6-28-5 since Feb. 10, are separated by five points entering their game at Buffalo on Thursday. They'll meet again at Arizona on Monday.