Our report card series continues today with the Sabres best offensive player this past season, Sam Reinhart.
Throughout the roller coaster of Ralph Krueger to the smoother sailing of Don Granato, with Jack Eichel’s season ending injury sprinkled in, Reinhart maintained offensive consistency throughout.
Total Season Stats: 54 GP | 25 G | 15 A | 40 PTS
Age: 25
Contract Status: Restricted Free Agent
Sam Reinhart had himself one hell of a year all over the Buffalo Sabres lineup.
Under Ralph Krueger, Sam Reinhart found himself stapled to the wing, which has worked for years. But under Don Granato, Reinhart found himself succeeding at the center position, when given an extended opportunity to prove his worth at the position.
The newfound positional autonomy not only benefitted Reinhart personally but the Sabres as a whole.
In 54 games this season, Reinhart shot a career-high 19.2%, which equaled out 25 goals on 130 shots.
Those aforementioned 25 goals also tied a career-high for Reinhart, which was set back in the 2017-18 season.
While Reinhart’s season essentially became a lost one because Buffalo missed the playoffs once more, the offensive display of power has the entire league talking.
Hockey pundits around the league certainly wondered what the Sabres would do without the power of Jack Eichel in the lineup and Sam Reinhart left little to the imagination.
Not only did Reinhart step up in an even more expansive offensive role but he also became a bigger leader for a team in need of direction.
Sam Reinhart gave the 2021 Buffalo Sabres everything he had, despite some of the negative reports coming out of local Buffalo media.
As the offseason began to progress, rumors have begun to ramp up regarding the status of Sam Reinhart. Will he stay or will he go? That is the imporant question, as Reinhart enters restricted free agency for the final time in his NHL career.
Season Grade: A
How Would You Grade Sam Reinhart’s Season?
| A | 327 |
| B | 111 |
| C | 11 |
| D | 2 |
| F | 2 |