FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Cole Reinhardt is eyeing a spot with the Florida Panthers.
With the battle for a few limited roster openings starting to heat up, the 26-year-old immediately made himself known with a very productive game in the preseason opener on Sunday.
Helping the Panthers to a 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena, Reinhardt scored a pair of goals and tallied a team-high seven hits over 12:02 of ice time.
“I’m happy for him,” head coach Paul Maurice said. “I think his game has grown. He can shoot the puck, and he showed that last year. He played a really, really smart game today.”
Claimed off waivers in March, Reinhardt has been loving his time in South Florida.
After notching seven points (3G, 4A) in 44 games with the Vegas Golden Knights before being waived, the former sixth-round pick scored six goals in 15 games with the Panthers.
Ending the 2025-26 season on a heater, he lit the lamp in four straight games.
“Good surroundings, good people,” Reinhardt said of his late-season success.
Still only 77 games into his NHL career, Reinhardt, who sometimes goes by “Cowboy” in and around Florida’s locker room, has also shown a knack for wrangling the opposition.
As a Panther, he’s averaging a whopping 13.66 hits per 60 minutes.
Among players with at least 15 games played last season, that number led the team.
“Just trying to earn my minutes, earn my right to be here and prove my right to be here,” Reinhardt said. “It makes a big difference knowing everyone coming in. You’re not shaking 100 hands. It makes a big difference knowing the coaches, knowing the system.”
Brady Tkachuk, who spent time with Reinhardt when the two players shared a locker room with the Ottawa Senators, believes that one of Reinhardt’s best attributes is his versatility.
“I think he’s a great player,” said Tkachuk. “I think he shows the different skill set that he could play with. Obviously ,he scored an amazing goal [against the Hurricanes on Sunday]. Great shot, and then he’s net front with a great tip, and he’s physical as well. I think he’s versatile in that way where he can play any style and be really effective.”
During training camp, Reinhardt is hoping to show the Panthers exactly that.
In his second taste of action in the preseason, Reinhardt saw his scoring streak snapped, but still made an impact in a 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on Tuesday.
Over 13:41 of ice time, he recorded one hit and two blocked shots. He also helped the Panthers go a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, amassing 1:08 of shorthanded ice time.
Given that he’s played in fewer than 100 career games in the NHL, Reinhardt isn’t limited by the new two-game maximum for veteran players in the preseason. With that, he there’s a chance he could still get in another game to build his case.
On Thursday, the Panthers will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7 p.m. ET.
“For me, it’s trying to make the most of the opportunity,” Reinhardt said.
