Florida Acquires Buffalo’s Leading Scorer in 2020-21
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Saturday, July 24, 2021
SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the Florida Panthers have acquired forward Sam Reinhart from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Florida’s first-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft and goaltender Devon Levi.
“Sam has established himself as one of the best playmaking scorers in the league, and we are thrilled to be able to add him to our Panthers lineup,” said Zito. “His competitiveness and hunger to succeed will fit seamlessly with the culture we are building here in South Florida.”
Reinhart, 25, appeared in 54 games for the Sabres in 2020-21, leading Buffalo with 25 goals and 40 points (25-15-40). He paced the Sabres with 10 power-play goals, tied for the fifth-most among NHL skaters.
The 6-foot-2, 193-pound native of West Vancouver, British Columbia, has amassed 295 career points (134-161-295) over 454 regular seasons games with Buffalo from 2014-15 to 2020-21. He has scored at least 20 goals in five of his six full NHL seasons, and at least 40 points in all six seasons.
Prior to his professional career, Reinhart played five seasons (2010-11 to 2014-15) for the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League (WHL), amassing 319 points (120-199-319) over 250 WHL games. He served as the club’s captain in his final two seasons, and was named the WHL’s Most Valuable Player and Most Sportsmanlike Player in 2013-14 after leading Kootenay with 105 points (36-69-105) in 60 games.
Reinhart was named the WHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2011-12 after posting 62 points (28-34-62) over 67 games. He won the 2011 WHL championship with Kootenay.
On the international stage, Reinhart earned a Gold Medal (2016) and a Silver Medal (2019) representing Canada at the IIHF World Championships. He earned a Gold Medal at the 2015 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship, where he scored the tournament-winning goal against Russia and led the tournament with five goals and 11 points (5-6-11). He served as the captain for Canada and earned Gold Medals at the 2012 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2013 IIHF U18 World Championship.
Sam’s father Paul played in 648 NHL games between the Atlanta/Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks from 1979-80 to 1989-90. His brother Griffin skated in 37 NHL games for the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers from 2014-15 to 2015-16, and his brother Max played in 23 NHL games for the Calgary Flames from 2012-13 to 2014-15.
He was originally selected by the Sabres in the first round (second overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.
Learn how you can join Panthers Territory today! Call 954-835-PUCK, click here or visit FloridaPanthers.com/TerritoryMemberships for more information or to book a private tour of BB&T Center.
With construction now fully underway, the Florida Panthers’ FTL War Memorial Auditorium will debut in 2022 as the team’s new state-of-the-art practice facility and a vibrant sports, entertainment, and community recreation hub in Fort Lauderdale’s Holiday Park. The revitalized community destination will continue to serve as an honored tribute to local military heroes. For the latest updates, visit www.ftlwarmemorial.com and follow @FTLWarMemorial on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
-PANTHERS-
