Ten days ago, Zach Aston-Reese emerged from a meeting with assistant coach Mark Recchi inside New Jersey’s Prudential Center to go over the finer points of the Penguins’ system.
A minute later — and about eight hours after learning he’d make his NHL debut that night — Aston-Reese stood in front of a bunch of cameras and microphones and … well, let’s just say he looked like your average 23-year-old when inundated with information.
Times have certainly changed.
Aston-Reese played his fifth NHL game Tuesday, scored his first goal at this level and continued his quick, upward trajectory, adding an empty-net goal late for good measure.