Jake Bischoff has waited a long, long time to get his NHL debut

This afternoon at 4, the Golden Knights will be taking on the Penguins in Pittsburgh as they begin a three game road trip. One player will have his long awaited opportunity to play his first game in the NHL.

That player is Vegas defenseman Jake Bischoff. The 25-year old was selected in the 7th round of the draft by the New York Islanders in 2012. He then played four years of hockey at the university of Minnesota and had an outstanding season in 2016-17.

Bischoff then transitioned to the AHL where he played a few games with the Islanders' farm team in Bridgeport before moving on to the Chicago Wolves. In Chicago he made a name for himself as a stay-at-home defenseman. 

Last year, he was called up by the Golden Knights on a few occasions without ever making his debut. He soon became a name that fans recognized. Now, a lot of Vegas fans can rejoice for Bischoff is making his NHL debut at long last.

In an interview ahead of the matchup against the Penguins, the Minnesota native had an opportunity to thank his parents for supporting him throughout his career. When asked about what he would try to bring to the game today, he answered that he would keep it simple and "make the easy pass when it's there". Something that coach Gallant will undoubtedly be glad to hear.

Bischoff will be partnered up with veteran fan-favourite Deryk Engelland on the third pair of defensemen. Both will be tasked with shutting down the likes of Sidney Crosby and other members of Pittsburgh's powerful offense throughout the game.

The rookie defenseman has spent a lot of time with the Golden Knights even if he hasn't played a game yet. He is familiar with Gallant's strategies and has trained with the team on numerous occasions. Known for his reliability, Bischoff should find his NHL legs soon enough. When asked about how nervous he is ahead of his debut, he said that he was unsure if he would be able to take his usual nap today.

Fans are excited to see what Jake Bischoff is all about in a regular season game in the NHL. He will certainly be looking to chip in for a Vegas win to start off their three-game away trip.