SAM DUNK: Panthers make splash by acquiring Reinhart from Sabres

Sam Reinhart is ready to step into both the spotlight and the sunshine.
After being at the mercy of the rumor mill late into the night as trade speculation dominated multiple social media platforms, the versatile forward was finally able to let out an excited sigh of relief during Day 2 of the NHL Draft on Saturday afternoon when it was announced he'd be heading to South Florida.

Acquired from the Sabres in exchange for a 2022 first-round pick and goaltending prospect Devon Levi, the longtime Buffalo star said he's looking forward to the next chapter of his career with the Panthers.
"I'm obviously thrilled with how everything went down," Reinhart said. "It was worth the stress."
Given that he's a restricted free agent, Panthers general manager Bill Zito said he's already spoken with Reinhart's agent to kick off discussions about an extension and that the initial conversations were good.
"We're thrilled to have him," Zito said of the move, which is already drawing rave reviews from top hockey pundits. "I think he's going to be a great addition for us. He gives us flexibility. Scoring, passing, playmaking, he can play pretty much anywhere in our lineup - center, wing, power play. We're thrilled."
An incredibly consistent player on offense, Reinhart has scored at least 20 goals in five of his first six full seasons in the NHL (he had a nine-game stint with Buffalo in 2014-15). If not for this past season being cut short, he would have also easily reached the 50-point plateau for the fourth consecutive campaign.
Playing on one of the lowest-scoring teams in the entire NHL, the 25-year-old paced the Sabres in both goals (25) and points (40) during the 2020-21 campaign. His 25 goals were tied for 11th in the NHL, nearly double the next-highest scoring player on his team, and also accounted for 18.7% of Buffalo's final total.
But in shifting from a rebuilding team to a contender, he's thinking more about the playoffs than points.
"It's very exciting, to say the least," Reinhart said of the move. "I've actually been fortunate enough to play with some of the guys already on the roster. I've been in touch with a bunch of guys already. I'm absolutely thrilled and motivated to come to a group that's hungry and trying to make the next step."
"[With the Sabres], it got to a point where decisions had to be made," he added. "I'm a competitor. I want to win. Right now, I'm thrilled to be a part of an organization with aspirations to make it to the next level right now. I'm just looking forward to contributing in any way that I can with this team."
When it comes to where he'll be lining up with the Panthers, Reinhart isn't too picky.
Taken by the Sabres with the No. 2 pick in the 2014 draft (just one pick behind Aaron Ekblad and two ahead of Sam Bennett, if you're looking for some Cats connections), Reinhart played primarily as a center to begin his career before transitioning to the wing sometime in the early stages of the 2017-18 season.
From that point on, that's where he spent most of his time until circumstances in Buffalo this past season led to him moving back to his role as a pivot in order to fill the team's void down the middle.
Making the switch on March 31, Reinhart found success right away. Closing out the season on fire, he tallied 19 points (13 goals, six assists) over his final 22 games. During that productive stretch, his 13 goals - four of them coming on the power play - were tie tied for the fifth-most in the entire league.
Now facing a clean slate in South Florida, the decision of where Reinhart will play likely won't be made until training camp, but the possibilities seem endless given his versatility. With his skillset, there's no reason to think he couldn't line up alongside Aleksander Barkov on the top line or possibly even center Jonathan Huberdeau on the second line. Either way, he projects to be valuable piece in all situations.
Asked where he sees himself slotting in, Reinhart admitted that he doesn't really have a preference.
"As my career has gone on, I've been pretty able to adapt to different positions, different types of players," he said. "I'm really excited to be slotted in wherever the coaches feel I'll be best utilized. There's obviously quite a few looks that I feel comfortable in."
Taking a step back and looking at the big picture, Reinhart is now part of a potent core of players only just beginning to enter the prime years of their careers in South Florida, a group that also includes Barkov (25), Huberdeau (28), Ekblad (25), Bennett (25) and Anthony Duclair (25), just to name a few.
Couple that with the fact the Panthers finished with the fourth best record in the NHL this past season, and it's understandable why Zito kept cracking big grins during his media availability following the move.
"They're all sort of in that same temporal scope of their careers where they can grow together and hopefully enter their primes together," Zito said of the team's centerpieces. "You're not mistaken [with your observation]. That's a focus that we acknowledge. We hope it will be fruitful for us."
Despite not seeing the Panthers on the ice this past season due to playing in different divisions, Reinhart said that he's kept close tabs on his new club and firmly believes there's something very special brewing.
Like many others around the NHL, Florida's epic battle with Tampa Bay in the playoffs opened his eyes.
"I'm definitely aware of the strides that they took," Reinhart said. "From playing against them in years past, I think the group has learned a lot. From watching the payoff series against Tampa, I think they took a big step."
Hoping to play a big role in the next Sunshine State Showdown, Reinhart can't wait to get started.
"Who wouldn't want to go to Florida?" he smiled. "Nobody hates the sun."