Sam Reinhart
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Six Forward
STRENGTHS
Hockey Sense: Simply put, Reinhart displays a great feel for the game. He knows how to slip away from traffic and provide the puck-carrier with a quality target, and he’s a smart passer himself. He makes sound decisions at both ends of the ice. There’s nothing flashy about his style, but his fundamentals would be valuable on any team.
Finish: Though he isn’t a pure sniper, he’s scored at a stellar rate throughout his career because of his shot selection. He doesn’t just fire on goal indiscriminately. Moreover, with his positioning and hand-eye coordination, he’s emerged as one of the best net-front threats in the NHL.
Defense: Reinhart is an active and willing defender. While he doesn’t throw his 6’2”, 193-pound body around, he effectively uses his reach and anticipation to break up plays and kick-start his team’s transition game. Due to his hockey IQ, coaches can feel comfortable playing him in late-game situations.
WEAKNESSES
Skating: Reinhart isn’t the most fluid skater around. Though he can get by in straight-line scenarios, he lacks the agility and edge work to create one-on-one separation or keep pace with quicker opponents. As such, teams shouldn’t count on him to be a primary puck-carrier.
Faceoffs: There’s a reason he’s mostly deployed as a winger these days. Reinhart is a total disaster at the dot, never claiming more than 45% of the faceoffs he’s taken in a single season. Cracking 40% is usually a struggle for him. If you’re looking for a winger who can take right-side draws for you, look elsewhere.
