s not read whats written about him,

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Connor McDavid tries not read whats written about him, following the advice of agent Bobby Orr and so many people around him. But its hard after Buffalo Sabres games.Whenever the Sabres lose, my Twitter just kind of blows up with fans kind of talking about me and stuff like that, McDavid said.It goes beyond social media. Some fans have already had McDavid 97 Sabres jerseys made up and wear them to games that hes not even eligible to play in.Buffalo is tied for the fewest points in the NHL through six games and has been outshot 227-141. With the team in full rebuild mode and no expectation for success this season, some fans are on board with the idea of tanking for the No. 1 pick in Junes draft.Even with a draft lottery system in place that discourages tanking, former Sabres defenceman and current Erie Otters assistant Jay McKee understands why those looking at the long-term picture are willing to cheer for losing to get an opportunity to pick McDavid.They should want to get Connor McDavid, the fans here in Buffalo, McKee said. But obviously in order to have a chance at drafting Connor, theyre probably going to have to have a bad year again. And as a fan, as a player, thats not necessarily what you want, so its kind of a double-edged sword.On Wednesday night, McDavid had a goal and three assists in his first game at First Niagara Center, which could be his home rink in less than a year. In something of a novelty regular-season Ontario Hockey League game, McDavid and the Otters were in town to play the Niagara IceDogs.Its the second time Buffalo has been the stage for top 2015 draft picks. This arena also hosted the USA Hockey prospects game, and potential Nos. 2 and 3 picks Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin, in September.For Erie, the game is a nice bit of exposure, and coach Kris Knoblauch said its a chance to break up the monotony of the season. For McDavid, its a potential preview of his future.On the concourse, McDavid Otters shirts and jerseys are mixed in with Sabres gear. The colours are similar, and the connection is undeniable.Collin Kuznik of Buffalo proudly wore his customized McDavid Sabres jersey to the Otters-IceDogs game on Wednesday night. He said fellow Sabres fans praise him when he wears it to NHL games, too.I just got the Sabres McDavid jersey because I figured the Sabres shot at him is pretty high this year, Kuznik said. (Fans) cheer for the Sabres but after every loss they go, At least we can get McDavid.Standing at a lectern Tuesday afternoon with a Sabres logo on it, McDavid said it was pretty weird to think about fans in Buffalo already getting his name stitched on jerseys. The 17-year-old, whos considered The Next One after Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby, insisted hes not thinking much about the possibility that this is the first of many times hell step onto the ice here.Maybe a little bit, McDavid said. If Buffalo happens to be the one that drafts me, thatll be great and Ill be thrilled. Its the NHL. You kind of go where youre picked. Every NHL city and organization is first-class. Buffalo would be obviously a tremendous honour.McKee played a season with Crosby and has drawn parallels between the Pittsburgh Penguins captain and Eries younger playmaking centre with the indescribable vision. On Tuesday, he said McDavid has the potential to be among the greatest players to play the game.With those expectations, its no wonder Sabres fans have their focus on McDavid instead of the likes of Cody Hodgson, Chris Stewart and off-season additions like Matt Moulson, Josh Gorges and Brian Gionta.Do you want to win? Do you want to have a draft pick? If you want to get a chance to get Connor McDavid, youre going to have to finish real low in the standings, McKee said. I understand the fans and their desire and for having Connor — they should have that desire. Its just a tough situation. You dont want your home team to lose, but you do want a good draft pick.Over the past three drafts, the Sabres have had five picks within the top 20: centre Sam Reinhart second overall this year, defencemen Rasmus Ristolainen eighth and Nikita Zadorov 16th in 2013 and forwards Mikhail Grigorenko 12th and Zemgus Girgensons 14th in 2012.Those players so far have combined for 37 points in 171 games, and Girgensons has 24 of them in 76 games.You build up all those first-round draft picks that are 10th or lower in selection and youve got a pretty good recipe of building a Stanley Cup team in the future, in four or five years or so, McKee said.No ones giving up on those young and still-developing players, but adding McDavid to the mix would change the whole landscape. Even though he believes hes no lock to make Canadas world junior team this year, the Newmarket, Ont., native leads the OHL in scoring with 32 points through 11 games.McKee called McDavid a generational player.Draft picks from 1 to 10, usually the players will have a great shot or great speed or work their tail off, theres something to high draft picks that are special about all those players, McKee said. He has all those abilities in one person.While Eichel, a centre playing for Boston University is in the discussion, it would be hard to imagine an NHL team with the first pick passing on McDavid. To no ones surprise the Otters are some of McDavids biggest supporters.Ive had a lot of players with a lot of ability that I wish had more character, and Ive had a lot of players with a lot of character I wish had more ability, Erie general manager Sherry Bassin said. Put them both together, you get a star, and weve got a few of them and hes our leader.Having seen McDavids development up close, McKee considers his play amazing. And hes not surprised that fans of many NHL teams want him.Its pretty unique because you dont find players of his capability very often, McKee said. Its not every year in the draft that you can find a guy like that, and I think this year is a special year.---Follow @SWhyno on TwitterNote to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version had the wrong first name for Collin Kuznik. Mark Grace Jersey . However, Therrien added that Galchenyuks status for next Wednesdays game against the Detroit Red Wings is questionable. Galchenyuk has been out since Jan. 6 with a broken right hand. Addison Russell Jersey . 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Russia has spent about $51 billion to deliver the Sochi Olympics, which run Feb. 7-23, making them the most expensive games ever, even though as a winter event it hosts many fewer athletes than summer games do.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Coco Crisp drove in Kyle Blanks with a two-out single in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Friday night. Josh Donaldson hit a three-run home run, his first in two weeks, to help the As extend their winning streak to four games. Oakland also owns the best record in the majors. Boston reliever Andrew Miller (2-5) hit Blanks and Alberto Callaspo with back-to-back pitches with one out in the eighth. After Nick Punto struck out looking, Crisp lined a 2-2 pitch to right and Blanks easily scored ahead of the throw from Brock Holt. Sean Doolittle pitched the ninth for his 10th save. The As closer also extended his scoreless streak to 23 1/3 innings, the longest active mark in the AL. Oakland only managed two hits off Boston starter Felix Doubront and had stranded eight runners before Crisp delivered the game-winner. Fernando Abad (2-2) pitched one inning for the win. The As have won the first two of this series after dropping two of three to the Red Sox at Fenway Park last month. Crisp entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and struck out against reliever Burke Badenhop. Both teams squandered multiple scoring opportunities. The Red Sox left two on in the fourth and failed to score after loading the bases in the fifth. The As had two on in the third, fourth and seventh but stranded them each time. Oakland starter Brad Mills struck out the side in the first before Boston loaded the bases with one out in the second following an error by Oakland second baseman Puntto.dddddddddddd. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run single to drive in Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes. It could have been worse. As centre fielder Craig Gentry made a diving catch on Holts sinking liner, then threw to second to double off Stephen Drew. Boston tied it on David Ortizs RBI single in the third. Mills, acquired in a trade from Milwaukee earlier in the week, had not pitched in the majors since 2012. He walked four and struck out four before leaving after pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. Donaldsons three-run homer off Doubront in the first was his first since June 6. Doubront didnt allow another hit after that but left without a decision. He struck out four and walked four over 4 2-3 innings. NOTES: Oakland C Derek Norris left the game in the sixth after getting hit by a bat on his left forearm during Craig Holts at-bat. ... Craig Gentry reached base in the third inning after getting hit by a pitch. The play had to be reviewed by the umpires before being upheld. ... RHP Clay Buchholz (hyperextended knee) rejoined the big league club after making his second rehab appearance. Manager John Farrell has not set a date for Buchholz to return to the rotation, but it seems likely hell start Wednesday in Seattle. ... Oakland optioned RHP Evan Scribner to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for Mills. ... RHP Jesse Chavez (6-4), who was pushed back a day in the rotation to make room for Mills, pitches on Saturday. ... Boston RHP Rubby De La Rosa (2-2) makes his first career start against the As. ' ' '