Connor McDavid presser after 8-4 win in Buffalo.
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Buffalo has a serious Connor McDavid addiction. They need help to kick their habit.
'Nuff said. @cmcdavid97 @BuffaloSabres @JayMcKee74 @WGR550 @TheBuffaloNews @TheHockeyNews @Real_ESPNLeBrun #KeepCalm pic.twitter.com/6SxFXMdqf8
— Retro Buffalo (@RetroBuffalo) October 22, 2014
@cmdavid97 at the podium. In total command tonight pic.twitter.com/TITwjSiwxk
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 23, 2014All of the advance hype was indeed correct.
Connor McDavid is one special hockey player. He put on a clinic by assisting on three goals in the first period of Wednesday night's tilt against the Niagara Ice Dogs in Buffalo.
The term "generational player" often gets used to describe McDavid and before Wednesday night, I was skeptical of such hyperbole. I'm hear to tell you that the kid made an immediate believer out of me by exhibiting his world-class skills against a formidable OHL opponent.
His two assists on Alex DeBrincat's goals were masterful displays of vision and sich hand eye coordination. He also set up Kurtis MacDermid with a beauty.
There were a handful of opportunities where he set up his man and the Ice dogs netminder made the save.
Perhaps his most amazing play of the night was when he grabbed a lose puck at the Niagara blue line and then used his deceptive speed to drive wide on Ice Dogs D Vince Dunn. McDavid, in full flight, waited until Dunn opened his legs, then he threaded a soft pass to himself through Dunn's skates. Who five-holes a big D-man, at top speed, then takes the pack hard to the net?
McDavid does.
Thankfully for the Ice Dogs their goalie Brent Moran made the clutch skate boot save.
My jaw dropped as I watched the play. Sitting beside me on press row were Ice Dogs injured players Brendan Perlini (Arizona 1st rounder 2014) and Ryan Mantha (Rangers 4th rounder 2014). His peers say that McDavid is the real deal. I concur.
12,000 hockey freaks leapt to their feet every time "The Next One" touched the puck. That's no joke. The kid energizes the crowd every time he's on the ice.
Like in the third period when the Ice Dogs were shorthanded. The puck found McDreamy, as it always does, and he deposited it into the yawning Niagara net behind Nichols School alum and Buffalo kid Stephen Dhillon who took over theDogs' cage after the fifth Otters goal.
@SabresBuzz he is truly this good every night â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸
— Amy Wilson (@sabresfan81772) October 23, 2014
@SabresBuzz What a show. I've never seen such a pure talent. Connor McDavid is the #RealDeAl
— Chris Weiser (@HomeTown7One6) October 23, 2014
Sabres fans that I spoke with in between periods told me that they would love to see their Sabres finish dead last in the NHL standing this season for the right to pick McDavid first overall in the June NHL Draft. That's the only way that Buffalo can land the slick skating Otters center man with the silky paws.
@KatiePowers15and countless @BuffaloSabres fans ready to claim @cmcdavid97, @ErieOtters invade Bufflo! Hilights 2nite pic.twitter.com/TXstzyfz9p
— Brandon Arroyo (@BrandonWICU) October 23, 2014
I asked McDavid about Ice Dogs hitting him and him retaliating:"Im not going to get pushed around out there". His physicality impressed me
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 23, 2014
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Buffalo Sabres fans have succeeded in endearing themselves to McDavid. He said that Buffalo has made a great first impression on him in the past couple of months.
McDavid: " Every NHL city and organization is first-class. Buffalo would be obviously a tremendous honour."
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 23, 2014
McDavid: "If Buffalo happens to be the one that drafts me, that'll be great and I'll be thrilled. It's the NHL"
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 23, 2014
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Watching McDavid reinforces 2 things in my mind: 1. I want him to play in Buffalo 2. I want Reinhart returned to Kootenay to dominate there
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 23, 2014
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