Sam Reinhart answers questions tonight. ©2014, Dan Hickling, Olean Times Herald

Sam Reinhart knew Sabres had interest for long time

PHILADELPHIA – Sam Reinhart said he had been “prepared for it for a long time.” The slick 18-year-old center knew the Buffalo Sabres wanted to draft him with the No. 2 pick.

“I’ve certainly visualized myself in this uniform,” Reinhart said tonight inside the Wells Fargo Center after the Sabres made him the first forward taken at the NHL Entry Draft.

If Reinhart has his way, he’ll be wearing that Sabres uniform on opening night in October. The Kootenay Ice star believes he’s ready to crack the NHL immediately.

“I think the biggest thing is I feel ready to play,” Reinhart said. “It’s a young team. I’m very familiar with that organization.”

Of course, Reinhart knows nothing will be handed to him.

“I know it’s not going to be given to me right away,” he said. “I’m going to do everything I can to step in there and make an impact and take advantage of every opportunity.”

The Sabres challenged prospects at the recent NHL scouting combine, asking youngsters what would happen if they went back to junior.

“It says a lot about the kind of guys they are,” Reinhart said. “I love to surround myself with an organization like that.”

So what does Reinhart have to do to make the NHL?

“The biggest thing as a young guy trying to break into the league is continuing to get bigger and stronger, and I’ve been doing that for quite some time now,” he said.

He added: “I’m going to do whatever I can to help. Like I said, I know it’s not going to be easy. They have some talented players in there right now. I’m going to try to compliment them nicely.”

Reinhart, who’s never been to Buffalo, said he’ll be participating in the team’s summer prospect camp next month.

Check back later for a full story on Reinhart!

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