If Buffalo Sabres fans are disappointed about their team landing Jack Eichel instead of Connor McDavid, they have a funny way of showing it.
More than 17,000 people – the Buffalo News pegs it at 17,115 – showed up to watch the Sabres scrimmage on Friday night. That’s a crowd that exceeds some NHL arena’s capacities to witness low-importance hockey in July.
(Italics seemed appropriate in a case like this.)
Even Dan Byslma, Stanley Cup-winner, was taken aback as onlookers “jammed around the rink.”
WGRZ reports that Eichel said he wasn’t surprised when hundreds showed up for a development camp practice back on Monday, but this is a pretty impressive turnout by any measure.
Fans shared a few shots of the surprising atmosphere:
Wild stuff.