Team Canada, Kootenay Ice reap from Sam Reinhart returning from Buffalo Sabres

Sam Reinhart and Connor McDavid could be playing together much sooner than Sabres fans ever dreamed.

To no great shock, Reinhart is headed back to the Western Hockey League's Kootenay Ice after reaching the nine-game 'soft cutoff' with the struggling-to-say-the-least Buffalo Sabres. As previously noted, while it's relatively rare for a No. 2 overall pick to go back to major junior, it's hardly a portent that Reinhart will not live up to his high potential. For a myriad of reasons, being on a bad Sabres team that seems to be tanking for a shot at McDavid just wasn't the ideal environment for a 19-year-old playmaker who thrives around other skilled players.

To be clear, Reinhart going back is a big deal within junior puck. First and foremost, it gives Team Canada another returning player as it seeks to end a four-year gold drought at the world junior championship. The WJC might not be so much of a 19-year-old tournament any more, but the reality for the Maple Leaf over the last four years has been that it's lacked that 'veteran teenager' who can almost become a force unto himself. There's also the chance to have him be the righty-shooting, high-hockey-IQ possessing complement to McDavid. The two skated together at the world under-18 championship in 2013 and seem to have a chemistry.

Canada really hasn't had that older player who can score at will since the 2011 tournament, coincidentally in Buffalo, when fellow Western League product Brayden Schenn was selected the most valuable player (inside baseball: the balloting was done during the first two periods of the gold-medal game, i.e., before Russia roared back to win).

The Schenn mention segues right into wondering about whether the Ice will trade Reinhart at some point over the next two months. During that 2010-11 season, Schenn's return enabled the Brandon Wheat Kings to trade him to the Saskatoon Blades in a blockbuster that altered the course for both franchises. Brandon currently leads the Eastern Conference, while the rebuilding Blades (5-9-0-0) are running 11th of 12 teams, ahead of only the Ice (3-12-0-0).

That trade didn't bring the Blades a title, of course; they were ousted in Round 2 by Kootenay, which had anted eight players and bantam draft picks to land Cody Eakin from the Swift Current Broncos.

The Ice are probably better than three wins in 15 games would indicate, especially since Toronto Maple Leafs-drafted defenceman Rinat Valiev (three games) and Montreal Canadiens signing Tim Bozon (two) have barely played. A quick Reinhart--infused reversal of fortune might increase the temptation to play out the string. As illustrated, though, the windfall is huge. A 19-year-old of his calibre rarely ends up back in the league.

Meantime, the question to ponder is whether Sabres fans on both sides of the Peace Bridge might want to cheer for Canada at the world junior, since their top pick and deeply sought after next top pick could be united.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.