The Florida Panthers are some of the thrilling groups to look at within the NHL. They’re loaded with stars and play an excellent fashion of hockey—it’s a deal with to behold. However I wish to direct your consideration to Sam Reinhart particularly, who’s capturing above a 20% clip for a second consecutive season.
Reinhart’s affect goes past simply capturing the puck, and that was displayed within the Panthers’ 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators final night time (Feb. 8). His presence alone proved to be a game-changer in his staff’s blowout victory. Let me clarify.
Reinhart’s Daunting Presence
Reinhart has change into one of many NHL’s finest goal-scorers. However he hasn’t wanted 99th-percentile shot energy to get there (removed from it, truly). Slightly, he has mastered placing the puck within the internet utilizing his impeccable accuracy and, to not be dismissed, his thoughts.
I went over each single considered one of Reinhart’s 67 objectives from final season from the second the puck dropped within the 2023-24 marketing campaign till he hoisted the Stanley Cup in June. A number of them have been from the bumper spot on the ability play, discovering holes in defenses and cashing in on golden alternatives. With superstars Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov dishing him pucks, Reinhart and the Panthers grew to become an unstoppable power.
At a sure level, groups caught on. That’s particularly the case at this time. However that hasn’t made him any much less harmful. Why, chances are you’ll ask? Nicely, check out this power-play purpose towards the Senators—Reinhart strikes to the bumper, attracts three gamers, and an uncontested Tkachuk shot beats Linus Ullmark for the rating. Ottawa, who was up 1-0 on the time, by no means noticed one other lead.
TKACHUK TKACHING pic.twitter.com/IaKpGt1zpd
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) February 9, 2025
Three gamers are swarming Reinhart on this purpose, with Jake Sanderson particularly giving him an excessive amount of consideration. However are you able to blame him? Together with the playoffs, Reinhart has 98 objectives for the reason that 2023-24 marketing campaign started—a big chunk of them have been scored from that actual spot. Tkachuk, some of the gifted playmakers within the league, routinely feeds him in that space.
Groups actually go over this. Everybody on the ice for a penalty kill is conscious that Reinhart is without doubt one of the deadliest effectivity shooters within the recreation. I’m not an NHL participant, however I’m prepared to guess that, main as much as Tkachuk’s snipe, that’s what they have been enthusiastic about. I imply, they immediately flocked to him.
It’s simply too dangerous that they forgot in regards to the shooter, and one with a number of 40-goal seasons. Reinhart’s mere existence distracts from the truth that the Panthers are stacked with expertise.
The Tkachuk purpose isn’t even a novel occasion. Reinhart could not get a lot credit score for it on the field rating (and even analytically), however his affect may be very a lot felt. For that, it’s protected to name him one of many NHL’s few superstars.
Panthers Had been the Excellent Vacation spot for Reinhart
He’s clearly had a ton of non-public progress, however Reinhart is as outstanding in opposing game-plan conferences (I speculate he’s, at the very least), largely due to the staff he performs for. He was incredible with the Buffalo Sabres, in fact, however the elite expertise in Florida has allowed him to blossom into what he’s at this time.
Maybe the Panthers noticed a high-end finisher (13.55% capturing clip between 2014-15 and 2020-21; higher than Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares in that span) and thought he might do much more injury in a brand new location. He was a two-way menace, too, so possibly the thought was that he wasn’t being maximized on a rebuilding roster. Nicely, basic supervisor Invoice Zito was right—there was much more to unlock.
The imaginative and prescient was clear. Jonathan Huberdeau and Barkov have been sixth and 12th in major assists respectively over the earlier three seasons, placing an already environment friendly shooter in probably the very best playmaking atmosphere within the sport. In 2021-22, Reinhart spent most of his 5-on-5 minutes with Anton Lundell (who appears like a star playmaker in his personal proper) and Mason Marchment, however the level stands. Even after Zito subbed out Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar for Tkachuk, the Panthers’ playmaking manufacturing unit was very a lot intact.
The advantages didn’t really start till final season, as talked about, however these advantages have been monumental. Reinhart is now stapled subsequent to Barkov at 5-on-5, whereas Tkachuk’s craftiness has raised his ceiling on the person benefit. Getting traded to Florida was a blessing for Reinhart—he has change into a family identify. The Panthers are exploiting his strengths higher than anybody else seemingly might have.
Panthers Are Nonetheless the NHL’s Finest
If I needed to choose somebody to win the Stanley Cup this season, the Panthers could be my first alternative. After shedding Brandon Montour and Oliver Ekman-Larsson together with Vladimir Tarasenko, I believe they might use a puck-moving defenseman for his or her high 4 and a middle-six winger who can present some scoring contact. However their basis is about, and it’s probably the greatest within the NHL.
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The Panthers are all the time a menace to attain, with play-drivers reminiscent of Barkov, Tkachuk, and Lundell all being on completely different traces. It’s a unending cycle of offense, as they’re the league’s fifth-best staff in each anticipated and precise objectives scored per 60 minutes. They’re additionally glorious defensively and bettering between the pipes (.913 save share for the reason that New 12 months), displaying how deep the roster in Dawn is.
With just a few minor tweaks, Florida might very nicely have the engine to characterize the Japanese Convention within the Stanley Cup for the third season in a row. Reinhart dwelling in his opponents’ heads is a driving power for this hockey membership.
