2021-22 Season Rewind: Sam Reinhart

Sam Reinhart reached new heights during his first season with the Panthers.
Taking his considerable talents to South Florida after being acquired in a savvy draft-day deal with the Sabres last summer, the 26-year-old forward went on to post new career-high marks in goals (33), assists (49) and points (82) during an incredibly productive 2021-22 campaign.

Making history, his 82 points were the most-ever by a Panther in their first season with the club.
"The season was great," Reinhart said after cleaning out his locker at FLA Live Arena. "I think, in time, we'll be able to reflect on that more. Unfortunately the playoffs are still kind of fresh and trump any of those highs at the moment. I think over time those highs will come back into play."
After settling into his new surroundings during the first month or so of the season, Reinhart hit the ground running. From Nov. 30 through the end of the regular season, he amassed 70 points (29 goals, 41 assists) over just 57 games, including scoring nine goals in his final seven games.
Despite being able to play up and down the lineup, Reinhart found his greatest success playing alongside Mason Marchment and Anton Lundell, a lethal trio that was a "third line" in name only.
Over the 198:52 that they shared the ice together at 5-on-5 play, the Panthers owned huge advantages over the opposition in shot attempts (209-127), shots on goal (121-74), scoring chances (112-55) and goals (22-7), according to the numbers over at NautralStatTrick.com.
Individually, Reinhart's consistently steady two-way approach was evidenced by the fact the Panthers were expected to score 3.19 goals per 60 minutes when he was deployed on the ice at 5-on-5 while being expected to surrender just 2.16 goals per 60 minutes at the same time.
Looking at Florida's regulars, his 59.57 xGF% was second-best on the team.
"He doesn't really have bad games," Lundell said of Reinhart. "He's good every night. He plays when the team needs him most. He's on the ice when we need to score and when we're a goal ahead. He's a great passer and also a great shooter. I think he's just really good at everything."
Setting up shop right in front of the net on the power play, Reinhart shined just as bright on the man advantage as he did at even strength. His career-high 16 goals on the power play not only paced the Panthers, but were also the sixth-most ever in a single season in franchise history.
Thanks in large part to that knack for finding the back of the net, Reinhart's 31 points on the power play placed him behind only Jonathan Huberdeau (38) on the Panthers this campaign.
"It's pretty fun," Reinhart said of his work with the extra attacker. "I think no matter who it is coming into a power pay, you have to learn tendencies, you have to read off each other."
Finally getting his first taste of the playoffs after more than 500 games in the league, Reinhart scored three goals during 10 games in the postseason, with his late game-tying goal in Game 4 at Washington playing a crucial part in helping the Panthers win their first series since 1996.
With lessons learned and a strong foundation to build off of, Reinhart and the Panthers are poised to keep building and take another step forward toward their ultimate goal next season.
"I think every experience you go through, there's new things you can learn from," said Reinhart, who has two years left on his current three-year deal. "Obviously it was new for me going through it for the first time. … I think you learn that no matter what you do during the season, it's trumped in the playoffs with what happens there. That's the certainly the goal moving forward."
COOL STAT
Could a Lady Byng be in Reinhart's future?
Already checking key boxes for the award such as sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct, he also did a fantastic job of keeping his nose clean and staying out of the penalty box this season.
Among players that laced up their skates in at least 41 games (half of the season) with the Panthers, Reinhart's five penalties were the fewest on the team. Additionally, he drew 12 penalties, which placed him tied for fourth on the team in terms of penalty differential (+7).
Matching a career-low, four of his five penalties were minor.
BEST GAME
In a game where everyone got to eat, Reinhart went back for second and thirds.
Putting up video-game like numbers, he racked up four points (three goals, one assist) while recording a career-high +6 rating during a dominant 8-4 win over the Blue Jackets on Jan. 31.
"We seemed to be clicking right from the start," Reinhart said. "I don't think we did anything special. We just moved our feet and moved the puck first and foremost. We created space."
Earning the fifth hat trick of his career and first as a member of the Panthers, Reinhart helped set the tone early on by netting a pair of goals in the first period, and then continued to help the team pull away from the Blue Jackets with another crucial score early on in the second period.
Overall, his line combined for five goals and 10 assists in the win.
"The better we play, the better everyone plays," Reinhart said. "I think we all feed off each other when it comes to each line. We've certainly been able to find some chemistry with each other."
GOAL OF THE YEAR
This was the goal that arguably turned the tide in the first round of the playoffs.
With the Panthers pulling their goaltender in favor of the extra attacker while trailing 2-1 late in Game 4 at Washington, Reinhart settled down a floating puck out of mid-air, turned and fired a shot straight past Ilya Samsonov from the slot to make it 2-2 with 2:04 remaining on the clock.
Riding the momentum from that clutch goal into overtime, the Panthers then went on to secure a 3-2 win on a goal from Carter Verhaeghe to get the tight best-of-7 series all squared up at 2-2.
"Those are the kind of situations you want to be in as a hockey player," Reinhart said after the win. "It's a game that can really go either way at the end of it. We stuck with it and we're happy with the result. Obviously, it's a much better feeling going back home 2-2 rather than down 3-1."
A historic tally, Reinhart's goal was the latest game-tying goal in Panthers playoff history.
STAY IN TOUCH
Want to see how Reinhart spends his time during the offseason?
Make sure to give him a follow at @samsonreinhart on Instagram!