Observations:

January 2016 – Sam Reinhart recorded his first career hat-trick against the Winnipeg Jets on January 10, 2016. Reinhart scored in three different ways; an even strength goal, a power-play goal and an empty net goal. His last goal was his 12th goal of his rookie season putting him tied for fourth in rookie goal scoring. He also is sixth in rookie point leaders with 19 points. Reinhart is getting more comfortable each game he plays this year, currently playing on the right wing with Jack Eichel and Zemgus Girgensons.

November 2015 – Reinhart scored again Sunday night, to give him two goals and three assists for five points in 12 games played. Sam has moved up and down the lineup in his first dozen games, playing 18.55% of his 5-on-5 ice time with Jack Eichel and Johan Larsson and 15.68% of the time with Tyler Ennis and Ryan O'Reilly. Those are the top two lines, so Reinhart should fit in to the top six throughout the year. Bylsma has mixed up the lines due mostly to injuries, so having Reinhart be able to move to the wing has helped him to stick in those top two lines. When the Sabres get healthy it will be interesting to see where Bylsma plans to play Reinhart. Wherever Bylsma decides, Sam will just keep adding his name to the gamesheets.

October 2015 – Sam Reinhart has made the opening night roster. It is hard to tell if he made it due to performance or if it is due to Brian Gionta's injury. Reinhart finished third on the team in pre-season scoring with zero goals, five assists and eight shots on goal. He played most of his time on the third line. He should have made the team even with the Gionta injury, but he will start his season on the second line playing the right wing with Evander Kane and Jack Eichel. He has transitioned his game to the wing to help his probability to make the NHL this year. He is only eligible as a centremen, but fantasy sites usually update pretty early in the year. His dual-eligibility should help get him into your rosters earlier than if he stays a centremen. In a deeper league or if you need to roster a rookie. Reinhart is a dark-horse to put up decent numbers without all the attention. Paul Zwambag

September 2015 – There has been a lot of speculation of what the Sabres' plan is for Reinhart this coming year. With the off-season addition of O'Reilly and drafting Jack Eichel they now have their three top two centremen. Reinhart may have to be moved to a wing, likely right wing, to make the Sabres roster out of training camp. It will be interesting to see where he slots in the Prospects Tournament that Buffalo is hosting mid-September. Will the Sabres move him to right wing and have him learn in the NHL or will they start him off in the AHL playing wing or leave him at centre. Check back in a couple of weeks to find out the situation leading into and throughout training camp. Paul Zwambag

January 2015 – Not only did Canada return to the medal podium at this year's 2015 WJHC, but they turned in a golden performance for the ages to boot! Sam Reinhart was a huge part of Team Canada's success leading the team and entire tournament in many categories along the way including goals (T1st- 5), points (T1st- 11), plus/minus (T1st- plus-12) and game-winning-goals (1st- 3). Just as predicted the trio of Duclair, Reinhart and Domi were nothing short of fantastic throughout always seeming to give Canada that goal or extra boost to spark up the team when needed. Reinhart for his effort was rewarded by being named one of Canada's top three players of the tournament while also being recognized as a First-Team Tournament All-Star. As steady as they come, Reinhart, was a key piece to a dominant performance by Canada which some are calling the best non-lockout team that Canada has ever iced. Travis Watson 

December 2014 – As expected, Sam Reinhart is back wearing the Red, White and Black for Canada and was named one of the assistant captains for the 2015 World Junior medal hopefuls. Team Canada will be looking to avenge their fourth place finish from a year ago and will have a big boost from the crowd with the tournament returning to Canada. Through training camp and exhibition the trio of Reinhart, Max Domi and Anthony Duclair have looked unstoppable and they will need to carry that momentum into the tournament if Canada hopes to break a 5 year gold medal drought. Look for Reinhart to be among the scoring leaders and involved heavily on the scoresheet throughout with a chance at leading the entire field in scoring when it's all said and done on January 5th. Travis Watson

October 2014 – The 2014 second overall selection, Sam Reinhart has been returned to his junior club. Reinhart, who made the Sabres out of camp and was getting rave reviews heading into the season wasn't able to make enough of an impact to keep around for another struggling season in Buffalo. Reinhart laced them up in nine games skating just a shade over 10 minutes on average and coming away with just one lonely assist. So in the best interest of the team and the player, Buffalo made the correct call in sending Sam back to the Kootenay Ice where he will get another opportunity to shine for his junior team and country when Canada hosts the 2015 World Junior Championships in Toronto/Montreal. Look for Reinhart to lead the attack as Canada looks to put hockey Canada back on the map as a perennial hockey powerhouse at the junior level. Travis Watson

August 2014 – Sam Reinhart is taking part in Team Canada's Summer Evaluation Camp again which begins August 3rd. There are 41 players invited in total with 11 of them being returning members from last year's disappointing fourth place finishers. Reinhart obviously will have his sights set on making the Buffalo Sabres but a nice consolation prize will be there for him with the opportunity of leading Team Canada on home soil to a hopeful gold medal finish. Travis Watson

July 2014 – Buffalo has signed Sam Reinhart, the second overall selection from the 2014 NHL draft to a three-year entry-level deal. Reinhart is coming off a season in which he was named the WHL Player of the Year as well as the CHL Most Sportsmanlike player and is looking to keep that momentum going. Hopefully, right into an opening day roster spot with the Sabres. Sam has a great chance at making the team out of camp due to Buffalo's lack of elite talent but they don't want to rush a player if they truly aren't ready ala Mikhail Grigorenko. The knock that has been against Reinhart is that he's not a dynamic enough skater but where he lacks in skating he makes up for in IQ, work ethic and high-end skill that is sorely needed for the NHL's lowest scoring team from last season. Reinhart is a game-changer and he has the potential to put up 70 points next season but keep in mind that 60 points by a rookie has only been eclipsed four times in the past seven seasons coming from the likes of Nathan Mackinnon, Jeff Skinner, Patrick Kane and Nicklas Backstrom. Now that's some elite company right there so I would temper your expectations and draft as if you're getting a 20+ goal scorer with 50-60 point production. Travis Watson

June 2014 – The Buffalo Sabres drafted Sam Reinhart second overall at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Brendan Ross

February 2014 – After scoring three goals and adding eight assists for 11 points in three games from the week of February 3rd – February 9th Sam Reinhart was named the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Week. Reinhart, considered a top 3 prospect for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, set a new career high when he registered five points (one goal, four assists) lifting his team to three straight wins through the week. Brendan Ross

January 2014 – Coming off an impressive showing at the World Junior Championship and stellar performance at the CHL/NHL Top Prospect game picking up a goal and an assist in Team Cherry's loss, Sam Reinhart is getting the respect he deserves. Reinhart was named as the 2nd best prospect for the upcoming 2014 NHL Draft in TSN's Bob McKenzie's Mid-Term NHL Draft Rankings. Brendan Ross

January 2014 – As an underage player on Team Canada at the 2014 WJC, Sam Reinhart impressed scouts with how much the red and white relied on his contributions. Reinhart earned more responsibility as the tournament went on drawing top defensive match-ups and looked at to provide Canada with some scoring. His strong two-way intelligent game remains his niche and one major reason that he's slated to become a top 3 selection at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Reinhart was named Captain of Team Cherry for the 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game scheduled for January 15th. Brendan Ross

December 2013 – Sam Reinhart is one of 13 forwards named to Team Canada for the 2014 World Junior Championship and just one of two draft eligible players playing for the red and white. Reinhart will have the chance to skate on the same team as older brother Griffin. Based on his pre-tournament chemistry with Connor McDavid and Bo Horvat, Reinhart stems to benefit huge as the trio was easily Canada's most effective line. Reinhart's complete two-way game and ability to step up in big moments has him ranked as the potential 1st overall selection for the upcoming 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Brendan Ross

July 2013 – Blessed with strong hockey bloodlines that feature father Paul, who played over a decade of NHL hockey, and two brothers, Max and Griffin, who are top prospects in the Flames and Islanders organizations, respectively. It is not easy for someone to follow in those footsteps but Sam Reinhart has exceeded all expectations and been deemed, arguably, the most talented Reinhart. He has already skated in two full WHL seasons posting 62 and 85 point seasons, plus he made his rookie debut that featured an 11-game trial to end his 15-year old season. Reinhart plays a solid two-way game that features elite hockey sense and an understanding of the game that cannot be taught. Reinhart has met lofty expectations at every level and his success representing Canada internationally should not go unnoticed entering into his draft season. He is a playmaker with a valuable defensive acumen but improvements to his skating would greatly increase his chances of being selected first overall in 2014.  Brendan Ross

Fantasy Outlook: A

Reinhart projects as a future leader with advanced offensive and defensive skills making him a likely first line forward at the NHL level.

Footage:

Sam Reinhart 2012-13 Highlight package:

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