Reinhart’s tryout in 2014-15 lasted just nine games. He started slow last year, then quietly began tipping pucks and worked for everything he achieved.

“You can just tell he’s a worker and wants to get better,” said O’Reilly, who served as Reinhart’s post-practice mentor. “You can tell by his character. Since Day One we saw that in him. He wants to make himself better, and he’s an elite player. There’s only more to come.”

While Reinhart was more reserved than Eichel in public and the dressing room, the duo noticed similarities. They quickly became friends.

“Our personalities are a little more similar than you think,” Eichel said with a mischievous grin. “I show my personality more than he does. He’s more of a quiet and contained guy. I’m the same way around everybody, so I show my personality on a day-to-day basis more than he does.

“But for the guys that get to know him, when you’re around him and you know him pretty well, when he’s pretty comfortable in his environment, he’s pretty outgoing.”

Reinhart laughed often during training camp while displaying a contagious smile and welcoming attitude. Of course, people in the dressing room had to wait to see it. He remains one of the last guys off the ice.