As the Buffalo Sabres gear up to award franchise cornerstone Jack Eichel a long-term extension, it appears another key piece in the club's quest for contender status will have to wait for his payday.

That piece is Sam Reinhart, the second overall pick in 2014, who will play out the final season of his entry-level contract beginning in October. While he became eligible to sign an extension July 1, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill isn't in a rush to work out a new deal with the 21-year-old just yet.

"We're excited with Sam but I don't think Sam from a contract standpoint will happen this summer," Botterill told Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. "We have him under contract another year and we'll see how things play out."

Reinhart is coming off his second full season in the pros, setting a career high with 47 points in 2016-17 after notching 42 as a rookie.

In waiting another season, the Sabres are giving Reinhart a chance to truly prove his value, and whether he takes a step forward in his development under new head coach Phil Housley will play a huge part in the young forward's impending pay increase.

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