Bylsma and Eichel: Who does Number 2 work for?

Connor McDavid? Sorry, Buffalo we'll change the rules on that one. Mike Babcock? Just for fun, we'll draw out even more realistic hope only to throw it in your face.

Yes, Toronto, in more ways than one, has dropped a pair of deuces on the Sabres over the past 12 months. But hey, this city is built on a sewer system that literally flushes human waste into our waterways. Basically, what I'm saying is -- this isn't our first rodeo.

So let me make, ahem, lemons into... uh.... lemonade.

From Manchester United to the Chicago Bulls to the Dallas Cowboys, 21st century sports is all about global branding and so far this "offseason," the Sabres have taken huge strides toward becoming a major American hockey brand for the next decade and beyond.

Sure, the team wasn't able to hit the jackpot with McDavid. And the Pegulas weren't able to land the biggest fish on the coaching market. However, having two Americans front-and-center who both have upcoming Olympic appearance on lock will cement the Sabres as the premier US hockey club for American kids just getting into the game now. When the next US superstar UFA is looking at clubs 15 years from now, he'll undoubtedly connect the Sabres to winning hockey on this side of the border.

This is what branding does. Mountain Dew might be a shitty, sugary, piss-looking pop -- but of course we all associate it with EXTREME SPORTS and EXPRESSING YOUR INDIVIDUALITY.

Now that Mike Babcock has signed on with Toronto, Bylsma and Eichel also have the added bonus of spicing up the NHL's hottest cross-border rivalry. No longer just a match-up between feuding siblings, Sabres-Leafs games will now buzz even more with the US-Canada rivalry. Babcock's first trip to Buffalo should be circled on every fan's calendar and the FNC giving him "the business" will hands-down be one of the highlights of the upcoming season.

When the Sabres didn't land McDavid and Babcok chose Toronto over Buffalo, it unleashed torrents of self-loathing from Buffalonians on Twitter (where else?). But buck up Sabres fans, getting a pair of No. 2s might feel like your getting dumped on now. However -- these two consolation prizes and their relative No. 1s could be seen very different decades from now. Just ask Brandan Shanahan and Pierre Turgeon.