If the NHL were smart, they'd have us host Edmonton. Mcdavid vs eichel right off the bat
I can't see the NHL shooting that bullet on Opening Night for a couple reasons. First, if the logic is that McDavid and Eichel will bring viewers, why send all those viewers to one game? If the league really wants to market those two with national broadcasts on Opening Night, they'd be better served to put the Sabres in the first half of a doubleheader and Edmonton in the nightcap. (And let's be serious, you know that NBC would make their pet teams--Chicago, New York, Boston, Philly, Pittsburgh, LA, and Washington--be the respective opponents for Buffalo and Edmonton.) Second, I think they'll save those Sabres/Oilers games for random mid-week games in the middle of the season.
What I want? Toronto. Eichel and Kane debut against Benedict Babcock. And, frankly, I want to see which Sabres fans will sell out their opportunity to see the first game of the Eichel Era to pay for a chunk of their season tickets. Oh, and we'll start 1-0 because we own Toronto in Buffalo.
What I think? One of the NBC pet teams, most likely Pittsburgh. You'd have Bylsma vs his former team, and Crosby vs one of the Chosen Two in Eichel. Runner up: Boston.