NFL Star Banging Drums For Buffalo's Season Opener against New York

But a welcoming guest tried to inspire the team, prior to the puck dropping.

The guest? Damar Hamlin, free safety for the NFL's Buffalo Bills.

Hamlin, eager for the season to begin, roared the crowd to excitement, in a heartwarming display of resilience and camaraderie.

During a Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati on January 2, 2023, Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle.

CPR and automated external defibrillation were quickly administered before he was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.

A week after being admitted to the hospital, Hamlin was transferred to a Buffalo hospital, and continues treatment there as his condition was trending upwards.

Damar Hamlin announced his intention to return to the NFL when he was fully cleared to return.

On August 12, 2023, Hamlin played his first NFL snap since his cardiac arrest in the Bills' preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Buffalo Sabres will look to bounce back from their opening loss against the New York Islanders, Saturday, October 14, at UBS Arena, in Elmont, New York.