Updated:
Thanks, Sabres.com
Its been a tough day for Tim Murray. He had to say goodbye (for now) to his first ever NHL draft pick on Halloween morning. Samson Reinhart took the demotion to Kootenay very well, said Murray. However, the kid got emotional when it was time to leave the First Niagara Center.
Murray described the scene as "terrible". TMGM told Reinhart that its okay for him to feel disappointed about being sent back to juniors when his draft class peers Aaron Ekblad (Florida) and Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton) are sticking around with their respective NHL clubs.
In the final analysis, Murray felt that it was best for Reinhart to go back to Kootenay to work on building more strength into his 6'1", 185 lb. frame. Reinhart's skill level and speed were not the issues. It was his lack of strength. He had the opportunity to battle against men like Getzlaf, Perry, Kopitar, Thornton, Marleau, Pavelski, Lucic, Van Riemsdyk, Hartnell, Hossa, Toews, Kane, Sharp, and other noteworthy big men in his nine game apprenticeship in Buffalo. He was consistently knocked off the puck. He lost battles. Tim Murray's scouting eye tells him that Reinhart isn't ready to play the heavy, robust NHL style yet. Operative word "yet".
He's close, however, he's not there yet.
Reinhart may want to chat up 2012 first rounder Mikhail Grigorenko who hit the rink and the weight room after he was sent back to his Quebec Remparts junior team last November. Grigo reported to Sabres rookie camp a bigger, stronger player after he added 15 pounds of muscle and more strength in his time away from Buffalo.
Samson need only study the strength program that fellow first rounder Zemgus Girgensons has followed since joining the Sabres in 2012.
In the end, Reinhart lacked the core strength to compete and push back against bigger, stronger men. That's okay. Reinhart is only 18 years of age. He has the rest of this season and next summer to complete his body strength transformation. He will be able to work his plan set forth by Sabres strength and conditioning coach Doug McKenny at his own pace, away from the watchful eye of media in Kootenay.
After the decision was made public, Murray told media that after watching Reinhart play in situations with his limited ice time that he thought it was best to send him back to Kootenay.
Murray said that he told Reinhart that he felt confident that the kid could go back to juniors and collect 100-120 points playing at three-quarters speed. But that's not what Murray wants for the kid. He wants him to concentrate on building more strength. Murray said that he told the kid that he's going to have to get two to three extracurricular workouts in at the gym. In other words, he's going to happen to go above and beyond his normal routine in order to address his strength issues. He's going to have to fight through the fatigue and the mental exhaustion in order to achieve his goals.
“For an 18-year-old player, I don’t see the value of the argument he can sit on the bench here and work out versus going back to junior, no matter what he’s accomplished in junior,… Murray said. “Great players have gone back to junior, 99 percent of the players that have played here have gone back to junior. He’s still going to get something out of it.…
Reinhart's name has been removed from roster on Sabres' website. Pat Kaleta's name has taken Samson's place
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 31, 2014
Thanks, Buffalo Hockey Beat
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Team Canada just breathed a massive sigh of relief as the Buffalo Sabres have sent center Samson Reinhart back to his Kootenay Ice team in junior hockey.
Reinhart will now be eligible to play for Team Canada's IIHF World Junior Championship team. Toronto and Montreal will host the 2015 IIHF WJCs. The tourney will open on Boxing Day.
I really like the kid. He's humble, smart, highly skilled and very eager to learn the pro game. He's been a good student for Ted Nolan and Bryan Trottier to work with. There's no point keeping him in a losing environment right now. He's been shown the right way to play at the NHL level, now its time to let him go apply his knowledge with kids his own age in the WHL.
Kootenay play Red Deer tonight and Lethbridge on Saturday night.
Tim Murray and Ted Nolan said Thursday night that they would be discussing the Reinhart matter this morning. The GM and coach have made the right choice. Reinhart, the second pverall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft has accumulated a body of work in the NHL that will serve him well in his development as a pro. He impressed at July's prospects camp, however struggled after getting tagged by Zemgus Girgensons in the annual Blue & White scrimmage. He showed well at the Traverse City Tournament in September and had himself an impressive NHL training camp. His first nine games of the NHL season have been a real eye opener for the youngster as he has had to make the adjustment to playing with 30 year old men who can skate like the wind, shoot howitzers, and hit like Ford F-250 half ton pick up trucks (see Jack Skille hit on opening night).
At 6'1 and 185 lbs. Reinhart has all of the ingredients to be a difference-making NHL centerman for the next 10 seasons. I see a lot of Jason Spezza in Reinhart's game.
This move is beneficial for all parties concerned. Reinharrt has been relegated to to playing on Buffalo's fourth line duty in Buffalo over the past couple of weeks. He's played well away from the puck and has made plays for his line mates. Reinhart has recorded one assist in nine games played and has taken only three shots while averaging 10:19 TOI per game. This kid needs the puck on his tape every shift. He needs to play 22-25 minutes TOI per game. He needs to play PP and PK. He needs to apply his Buffalo learning experiences to his Kootenay Ice team that is badly in need of an offensive infusion. In 15 games this season, the Kootenay Ice have scored only 29 goals while allowing 64 goals against. Reinhart represents immediate offense to Kootenay. It would not surprise me at all if Reinhart posts Connor McDavid-like points per game numbers. I can see him easily delivering 3 points per game for the Ice.
Kootenay are 3-12 in 15 games this season and are 1-9 in last 10. They sure could use an infusion of Samson's skills
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) October 31, 2014
Speaking of McDavid, he and Reinhart will be Team Canada's 1-2 punch at center at the WJC's. Not a bad way to compete for gold at the prestigious junior tourney. Team Canada hasn't won the gold medal for the past five seasons and there will be a ton of pressure on Reinhart and McDavid to deliver gold back to Canada.
Who knows. Reinhart and McDavid may be teammates in Buffalo next season.
It just might happen.
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I spoke with Sabres energy man Pat Kaleta after the 3-2 OT loss to the Bruins last night. He's making progress and is close to returning to the Buffalo lineup.
There's your replacement for Reinhart.
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Happy Halloween, citizens of Pegulaville!
#Sabres Season Ticket Holder Dave Hoekstra's pumpkin of our owner Terry Pegula for @RoswellPark carving contest. pic.twitter.com/jRi8M1M55o
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 31, 2014