If you are not sold on Samson Reinhart staying and playing in Buffalo yet, you better give your head a shake.
The kid doesn't need a stint to marinade in AHL Rochester.
Reinhart proved Saturday night that he is indeed ready to be a full time NHLer.
Reinhart, who will be 20 in three weeks, scored his first NHL goal and nearly scored another that kissed off Ben Bishop's goal post in the third period. Samson has looked strong on both sides of the puck in recent games. To me, it looks like the kid is a NHLer.his skating is string. His wall work is physical. His back checks are at a high pace. His net front presence on the PP is distracting to enemy goalies and D-men.
Reinhart is maximizing he role of an NHL forward right now. He's not just skating shifts. He's dominating with his puck possesion and his creativity. It this humble observer's opinion that the kid is now a man.
Is he ever fun to watch play.
Dan Byslma trusted his hunch to play Reinhart on Buffalo's top line along with Ryan O'Reilly and Tyler Ennis. Reinhart is known for his high hockey IQ and his silky smooth skill set. O'Reilly and Ennis are as equally gifted as Reinhart. Put the three intelligent players together and watch them skate and create, right? That's exactly what Bylsma did.
The move paid early dividends as Reinhart scored off an Ennis assist which gave Buffalo the 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Note how Reinhart released off the wall and drove to the blue ice when he recognized Tyler Ennis carrying the puck behind the net. Reinhart thinks the game at a rapid rate and he sensed that he would become a passing target for Ennis were he to drive the blue. Where are 90% of all NHL goals scored? The goal mouth and just outside the goal crease. Reinhart is adapting his game nicely to the NHL style where you get pucks deep, batter the enemy D and force turnovers.
Reinhart was easily Buffalo best and mode consistent Buffalo forward on Saturday night in Tampa. The Kootenay Kid, who turns 20 on November 5, skated 20 shifts for 15:43 in TOI. Dan Bylsma gave Reinhart 2:49 in PP ice time with which he created several deft scoring chances for O'Reilly and Ennis.
When Brian Gionta returned to the lineup from injury earlier this week, there was a decision to be made between sitting Reinhart or Larsson as the healthy scratch. Bylsma flipped the script and sat veteran David Legwand on Thursday night in Sunrise. On Saturday night, Legwand was back in the lineup and Larsson was the forward scratch. Larsson is a fine player, however, he doesn't provide the top six production and upside that Reinhart possesses. Larsson is a gritty, sandpapery forward who can be relied on to create energy. Reinhart is a wizard with a hockey stick who gets pucks to the net and creates chances for his line mates. He will have to clear waivers in order to be sent to the Rochester Amerks. Tim Murray should want to get some trade value for Larsson rather than risking losing him, without compensation, on the re-entry waivers. I think Larsson would be plucked off waivers were he to be sent down to the Rochester Americans. I'd include Larsson in a trade for another defenseman or a goalie to help support Chad Johnson while Robin Lehner recovers from his high ankle sprain. Zach Bogosian is nearly ready to return to the Buffalo lineup. He should be back in time for when Toronto travels to Buffalo on Wednesday night. A roster spot will have to be created for Bogosian. Is a trade coming between now and then?
Bylsma and Tim Murray are better off keeping Reinhart in Buffalo than they are Johan Larsson, who was the healthy scratch in Tampa. What Reinhart lacks in grit, he more than makes up for his goals, assists, and creativity. Right now, the Sabres need to bury more chances and score more goals per game. I say play Reinhart on a full time basis.
Reinhart can't be blamed for the dumb interference penalty that veteran D-man Cody Franson took with 5:32 remaining in the third period in Tampa. The Bolts scored the GWG just as the Sabres were surging.