Sam Reinhart has increased his team-leading goal total to 22 in 48 games, just three shy of the career-best mark he set in 82 games in 2017-18. Five of those have come in the past three contests, including a hat trick against Boston on April 23.
Reinhart said part of his success can be attributed to moving back to his natural position over the past month. He entered the league as a center but spent recent seasons playing full-time on the wing, often alongside Jack Eichel.
"It's allowed me, really forced me to move my feet a little bit more," Reinhart said of the move back to center. "I think it was an adjustment at the start of my career, having to force myself to do it more moving over to the wing. … This part is almost more natural for me for my professional career."
Granato said the position has given Reinhart more room to roam offensively, allowing his creativity to flourish.
"Sam is not only a great goal scorer, he has more room to find different pockets because he's not wedged against the wall half the game," Granato said. "He can move east-west, left-right, and he has a creative side to him as well, a very deceptive and creative player.
"He has more opportunity offensively in that position. I feel we've seen that and we've been able to take advantage of that. As he's re-acclimated to that position, he shows signs of continuing to get better and more dangerous."