The San Jose Sharks had an interesting decision to make this weekend, one that a lot of fans were watching: whether or not to play defenseman Sam Dickinson in his 10th NHL game. The 10th NHL game has long been a milestone of sorts for young players looking to break into the league, especially teenagers. That’s because it’s an indication of whether the player is ready to play at the sport’s highest level or if he needs more time to develop. A team that thinks the player needs more time to develop will often decide to send the player back to his junior team before that 10th game, preserving the first year of the player’s entry-level contract (ELC) for another season.
40 is the new 10 – why 40 games matter this season
