Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – The Buffalo Sabres have returned forward Sam
Reinhart, the second overall pick of this year’s NHL Entry Draft, to his
junior team at Friday’s deadline to do so.
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement allows NHL teams nine games to
evaluate players still eligible to play in the junior leagues without it
counting as a year accrued on their entry-level contracts. Reinhart appeared
in his ninth game in the Sabres’ overtime loss to Boston on Thursday.
Buffalo’s decision to send Reinhart back to Kootenay of the Western Hockey
League was not unexpected, as the 18-year-old had averaged just 10:21 of ice
time while managing only one assist over his trial period.
Reinhart became the Sabres’ highest draft choice since Pierre Turgeon was
selected first overall in 1987 following an outstanding season at Kootenay.
The Vancouver-area native racked up 36 goals and 69 assists in 60 games for
the Ice to earn 2013-14 WHL Player of the Year honors.
