Season Stats: 82 GP | 25 G | 25 A | 50 PTS
Age: 22
Contract Status: RFA
The Buffalo Sabres as a whole had a dismal season, but Sam Reinhart actually had the best season of his young career to date in the 2017-18 season. He hit the 50-point mark for the first time in his NHL career, the highest point total he’s had since he hit 69 points in the 2013-14 season with Kootenay in the WHL.
He had eight more goals, and three more points, than he did in the 2016-17 NHL season – and he appeared in all 82 games with Buffalo. Overall, Reinhart finished third on the Sabres in scoring, behind only Jack Eichel and Ryan O’Reilly.
Reinhart’s 25 goals this season are also an NHL career-high for the 22-year-old. It’s honestly amazing to me that Reinhart is still so young – I had to double-check his age as I typed that. Despite being on such a rough team, he’s building himself a respectable NHL career, especially given the circumstances. He’s three seasons into his NHL career now, and with his next game, will hit 250 career games.
If he can manage to hit 50 points and have a career-best season on a team that finishes 31st, imagine what he could do on a team that ends up in a playoff position.
Reinhart should be a key piece of the Sabres’ core future going forward, alongside guys like Eichel and Casey Mittelstadt.
Season Grade: A-
What grade would you give Sam Reinhart this season?
| A | 280 |
| B | 444 |
| C | 88 |
| D | 4 |
| F | 2 |