When the puck drops on Sabres @ Penguins on Thursday, it will mark an auspicious occasion for Jack Eichel and Samson Reinhart.
For the first time in their brief NHL careers, Buffalo's Dynamic Duo Version 2.0 will play head to head against Sidney Crosby and Geno Malkin. It's an exciting opportunity for Jack and Samson to show Sid and Geno some respect and more importantly, to make plays and create chances in for the Sabres.
Sid and Geno's former head coach and mentor Dan Bylsma played Eichel with Reinhart and Johan Larsson in Buffalo's 4-3 OT win over Philly on Tuesday night. Eichel and Reinhart are gelling together nicely, the same way that 87 and 71 had early on in their NHL careers. When Evander Kane suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee on Saturday night, it all but insured that Reinhart would be staying and playing in Buffalo rather than being demoted to AHL Rochester.
When the opening faceoff puck goes down, it will start the meter on one year of the entry level contracts of both Eichel and Reinhart.
Burn, baby burn will be a common refrain around the NHL in the days and weeks to come. You see, more and more 18 and 19 year olds have made their mark on their respective NHL teams. More than ever, the kids are sticking and staying with their NHL clubs after the nine game NHL tryout opportunity ends.
There a is a bumper crop of fantastic freshmen who are currently at or about to cross the ten NHL games played threshold.
Eichel turned 19 years of age today. Reinhart will turn 20 in two weeks.
On Tuesday night, Connor McDavid played in his tenth NHL game and thus triggered year one of his NHL contract.
Winnipeg Jets forward Nicolaj Ehlers will trigger year one of their ELC's on Thursday night as well. Ehkers has been one of Winnipeg's best forwards in their first nine games of the season. He's a keeper.
Noah Hanifin, the Carolina Hurricanes D prospect who was a healthy scratch on Tuesday night, has played 8 NHL games. I would be shocked if the Canes don't keep him in Raleigh for the rest of the NHL season.
On Friday night, Detroit's Dylan Larkin will play in his tenth NHL game. He too will also burn one year of his entry level contract.
In the next week or so, we will learn the fate of these first year players:
 Vancouver forward Jared McCann who has already played 7 NHL games.
Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen has played 6 NHL games as have Vancouver forward Jake Virtanen and Pittsburgh forward Daniel Sprong.
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