Buffalo Sabres (2014–present)
After being selected second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Reinhart signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team. [40] After attending the Sabres' training camp, Reinhart made their opening night roster for the 2014–15 season. [41] He made his NHL debut on October 9, 2014, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, becoming the sixth-youngest player to dress for the Sabres in franchise history. [42] Reinhart recorded his first NHL point, an assist on a goal by Nicolas Deslauriers, on October 25 against the San Jose Sharks. [43] This would be his only assist over nine games with the team and he was sent back to the Ice on October 31. [44] Upon being re-assigned to the Ice, Reinhart returned to his scoring form and set numerous franchise records. On January 21, 2015, Reinhart scored a goal against the Saskatoon Blades for a franchise-record 287 career points. [45] Nearly a month later, in his 238th career WHL game, he became the first player in franchise history to record 300 points. [46] He finished the season third on the team in scoring with 19 goals and 46 assists through 47 games. [47] He was assigned to the Sabres' American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans, on April 9 [47] although his debut was delayed due to an injury. [48] To ease his transition into professional hockey, Americans head coach Chadd Cassidy used him primarily on right wing instead of his natural position of center. [49]
During the 2015 offseason, the Sabres drafted centre Jack Eichel in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and acquired centre Ryan O'Reilly from the Colorado Avalanche. As a result, Reinhart was no longer considered the Sabres top centre and was expected to start the 2015–16 season on the third line. [50] While attending the Sabres' training and development camps, head coach Dan Bylsma stated that Reinhart and Eichel gave the Sabres the best chance of winning games. [51] He was also considered a long-shot candidate for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year. [52] [53] Following the Sabres' training and development camps, Reinhart was named to their opening night roster for the second consecutive season. [54] Reinhart primarily played on the Sabres' third line, [51] but started seeing top line minutes with Eichel as the team began the season with an 8–9–1 record. [55] Reinhart scored his first career NHL goal on October 17, 2015, against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Lightning' goaltender Ben Bishop, [56] and added five more by December 1. [51] On November 27, Reinhart began skating on the Sabres' first line with Ryan O’Reilly and Evander Kane. While they went pointless in their debut, the trio combined for eight goals and 13 points over their next three games. [57] Through six games together in December, Reinhart added four goals and one assist with 19 shots on net. He also earned praise from Bylsma, who said: “his skating has improved. His puck battles have improved. His shot has improved and it’s been pretty drastic in the last two months for Sam." [58] On January 10, Reinhart recorded his first career NHL hat-trick in a 4–2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Reinhart subsequently became the first Sabres player to record a hat-trick since 2006 and the youngest to do so since John Tucker in 1984. [59] The win also ended a season-high six-game losing streak for the Sabres, who were 16–22–4 on the season. [60] At the start of February, Reinhart missed three games with a concussion but scored the Sabres' lone goal in his return as they fell to the Boston Bruins. [61] In the final 18 games of the season, Reinhart left O'Rielly's line and joined Eichel as the Sabres' top unit. [62] After recording a goal and an assist in a win over the Ottawa Senators on March 18, he and Jack Eichel became the first pair of Sabres rookies with 20-goal seasons since 1975. [63] Over the final 18 games of the season, Reinhart and Eichel combined for 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points. [62] Reinhart finished the season ranked second on the Sabres with 23 goals and 19 assists for 42 points over 79 games. [64] He also received two votes for the Calder Trophy and 10 votes for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and the NHL's most gentlemanly player. [65]
During the 2016 offseason, Reinhart worked with his long-time skating coach Barb Aidelbaum on his skating acceleration and playmaking skills to improve for his sophomore season. [66] After Eichel suffered a lower body injury during the preseason, Reinhart began the 2016–17 season on the wing of Ryan O'Reilly and Kyle Okposo. After four games with the two, Reinhart was transitioned to his natural position of centre between Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons. [67] During his first month in this position, Reinhart experienced a seven-game pointless drought that was snapped with two assists in a game against the Calgary Flames on November 21. [68] However, he continued to experiences bouts of pointlessness and was eventually transitioned back to right wing on a line with O'Rielly and William Carrier. [69] When O'Rielly missed time in December due to an appendectomy, Reinhart was transitioned back to a centre position temporarily. [70] While continuing to alternate between centre and winger, [71] Reinhart maintained a team-high 15 primary assists through early January. [72] He missed two games due to an illness but returned to the Sabres' lineup following their bye-week in late February. [73] Reinhat finished the season with a new-career high 47 points as the Sabres again failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. [74]
Reinhart began his third full season with the Sabres and fourth season with the team and in the NHL altogether as a centreman [75] but was reunited with Eichel and Kane on their wing after a slow start. Through his first 17 games of the season, Reinhart had accumulated two goals and three assists while the team maintained a losing 5–9–3 record. [76] This reunion was shortlived as head coach Phil Housley continued to shuffle the forward lines in an effort to create more offense. [77] As Reinhart continued to struggle offensively through the first half of the season, scoring only 11 points in 34 games, Housley tried him back on Eichel's wing again in late December. [78] In the final 38 games of the season, Reinhart accumulated 18 goals and 19 assists for 37 points. [79] On April 1, 2018, Reinhart scored his second career NHL hat-trick in a 7–4 win over the Nashville Predators. [80] The hat-trick helped Reinhart finished the regular season with career-highs in games played, goals, points, power-play goals, and power-play points.
On September 19, 2018, Reinhart signed a two-year, $7.3 million contract extension to remain with the Sabres. [79]
On October 25, 2020, Reinhart signed a one-year, $5.2 million contract with the Sabres. [81]
Florida Panthers (2021–present)
On July 24, 2021, Reinhart was traded by the Sabres to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Devon Levi and a 2022 first-round pick. [82] On August 11, Reinhart signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Panthers. [83]
On June 24, 2024, in Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, Reinhart scored one of the most important goals in franchise history, a decisive goal that put the Panthers ahead 2–1 and propelled Florida to its first Stanley Cup title.
On July 1, Reinhart signed an eight-year, $69 million contract extension that keeps him with the Panthers through the 2031–32 season. [84]
Canada 
