Explaining Vegas' First-Round Draft Picks' New Contracts

On Saturday, the Golden Knights signed all three of the team's 2017 first-round draft picks to three-year, entry-level contracts.
This isn't t say that Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki and Erik Brannstrom are professional hockey players just yet, nor will they immediately be receiving major dollars.
Below, we break down what their new contracts mean for each of the three players.

Cody Glass
Just as is the case for Nick Suzuki and Erik Brannstrom, Glass' contract doesn't necessarily mean he immediately begins getting paid. For players signing entry-level contracts, the terms don't officially take effect until the player turns pro.
For a player like Cody Glass, especially when factoring in George McPhee's preference to be patient with prospects, this contract will more than likely not go into effect this season. Barring unforeseen circumstamces, Glass will play junior hockey this season with the Western Hockey League's Portland Winterhawks, his club the past two seasons and a regular Memorial Cup contender.
Just note that Glass would be permitted to play up to nine games for the Golden Knights this season, and would still not begin the contract that he signed on Saturday. He could play up to nine games for the Golden Knights (or come to training camp) and not yet begin his NHL contract.
After nine games, however, he would officially turn pro and begin his contract.
Glass wouldn't be eligible for the AHL's Chicago Wolves under this contract until the age of 20, two years from now. The only way (besides a tryout of up to nine games) that Glass could play in the AHL before age 20 would have to begin with him making the Golden Knights as a full-time player this season.
If Glass surpasses the nine-game mark and stuck with Vegas this season, he could potentially be sent down to Chicago full-time before the age of 20. The contract he signed on Saturday also applies to AHL service, although it's not possible for him to start this season as a full-time member of the Wolves.
If Glass played two more years of junior, he would be allowed to begin this contract two years from now in the AHL, if he's not yet ready for NHL duty.

Nick Suzuki
Has nearly identically contract circumstances as Glass.
Except rather than returning to the Portland Winterhawks, Suzuki's junior club is the OHL's Owen Sound Attack. With Owen Sound coming off a deep playoff run and seeming like it has a good chance to contend for a championship again, Suzuki will probably play for the Attack this season as the team's top center.
But just like Glass, Suzuki is eligible to attend training camp and play up to nine NHL games this season without beginning his new contract, and still having the chance to go back to junior.

Erik Brannstrom
Brannstrom is in a little different of a situation than Glass or Suzuki, mainly because he plays for a professional team in Europe, rather than a North American junior team.
Hypothetically, it would seem that since Brannstrom has already turned pro in Europe, that he's have full flexibility to play in either the NHL or AHL this season.
While Brannstrom could technically make the Golden Knights and play in the NHL this season, a stipulation in his contract prevents him leaving his European club, Sweden's HV71, to play for the AHL's Chicago Wolves this season.

If Brannstrom doesn't make the Golden Knights, he would have to return to HV71, where his new NHL contract would not yet begin. This is the likely scenario, as Brannstrom won't even turn 18 yet until September, and weighing only about 175 pounds, probably needs to physically mature before playing for Vegas.
Brannstrom playing against full grown men in the Swedish Elite League, rather than playing junior hockey, seems to be a reasonable choice for the defenseman. Because even though the Swedish Elite League isn't nearly as rough and tumble in the NHL, it allows Brannstrom play against established veterans, some of whom have 10-15 years of age on him.
A solid showing in the Swedish Elite League this season could put Brannstrom in the running for an NHL roster spot in the fall of 2018.