Florida’s Paul Maurice sends a ‘classy’ message to Sam Reinhart after his outstanding…

To truly grasp the significance of Sam Reinhart’s breakout season with the Florida Panthers, it’s essential to look beyond his goal-scoring prowess.

While much attention has rightly been focused on Reinhart’s ability to find the back of the net, making him only the second player in franchise history to reach 50 goals in a single season, his contributions extend far beyond scoring. With four games remaining in the regular season, Reinhart remains within reach of Pavel Bure’s franchise record of 59 goals and could potentially become the sixth player in NHL history to notch 30 power-play goals in a season, currently sitting at 27.

However, amidst the discussion of Reinhart’s offensive achievements, his exceptional defensive play often gets overlooked. He has evolved into a defensively responsible forward, playing a crucial role in Florida’s penalty kill, which ranks among the league’s best. Additionally, Reinhart has emerged as one of the NHL’s top defensive forwards during five-on-five play.

Reinhart attributes his success to the team’s collective approach, emphasizing the importance of playing a complete game without taking shortcuts. His improvement over his three years with the Panthers is evident in various metrics:

• When Reinhart is on the ice during five-on-five play, the Panthers control over 57% of all shot attempts, ranking fourth among forwards with at least 1,000 minutes of ice time this season.
• Florida has conceded only 32 goals with Reinhart on the ice at five-on-five, among the lowest in the league.
• Opponents have generated the fewest scoring chances and high-danger chances when Reinhart is on the ice.
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Reinhart’s impact extends beyond even-strength play. He has set a franchise record with 27 power-play goals and is equally effective on the penalty kill. His versatility is highlighted by ranking among the top 20 forwards in time on ice for both special teams.

Furthermore, Reinhart’s defensive commitment is reflected in his league-leading five short-handed goals, just one shy of tying the Panthers’ single-season franchise record.

Reinhart’s ability to excel in all facets of the game has earned him praise from Panthers coach Paul Maurice, who emphasizes his team-first mentality and contributions on both ends of the ice.