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‘It’s pretty surreal’ -- Megan, 26, to play first-ever NHL game tonight

Sun Life Frozen Fenway - Hockey East

BOSTON - JANUARY 08: Wade Megan #18 of the Boston University Terriers takes the puck in the first period against the Boston College Eagles on January 8, 2010 during the Sun Life Frozen Fenway Hockey Game at the Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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Pretty good week for guys that made it the hard way.

In the wake of Minnesota giving 30-year-old Pat Cannone his NHL debut on Tuesday, the St. Louis Blues will do the same with 26-year-old Wade Megan, who draws into the lineup tonight in Tampa Bay in place of the injured Paul Stastny.

“Obviously a lot of emotion, it’s pretty surreal,” Megan said, per the Post-Dispatch. “A lot of thoughts going through your head. Here I am, so it’s good, I’m excited.”

A four-year Boston University product that played alongside the likes of Nick Bonino, Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Chiasson, Megan was taken by Florida in the fifth round of the 2009 draft and spent time in both the ECHL and AHL while with the Panthers organization.

Never an impact scorer, Megan did raise a couple eyebrows in AHL Portland last year, scoring 14 goals. He then broke out in a major way this season, with 13 goals and 24 points in 28 games. The 24 points are already a career high.

It remains to be seen where Megan will line up tonight. The Dispatch’s Jeremy Rutherford noted he arrived at the Blues hotel around 1:15 p.m. ET, roughly six hours to puck drop. So he didn’t get a chance to participate in the morning skate.

It’s worth noting Megan and Cannone weren’t the only AHL veterans to make their NHL debuts this year. Buffalo gave 27-year-old Eric Burgdoerfer a shot last month.