Michael Pachla: Impressions of, and questions concerning--F, Sam Reinhart

First!

The Rodney Dangerfield of current Sabres roster...

Where is his production plateau and when will he hit it? Is a point/game a reasonable career high? Can he carry a second line next year if the Sabres fail to add a legit No. 2 center? Can Buffalo get more out of him even strength? What will he and his agent be looking for contract-wise?

Nice work.

Can he elevate a 2C while getting 60-65 points himself at RW? That's the ideal scenario for him imo.

If I could throw another wrench in the works, I have this thought as well: We all know Reinhart is not a center, but does Housley not deserve some blame for not trying Reinhart at center when Eichel was hurt? Or when Mittelstadt struggled? Wouldn't that have at least been interesting? It's kinda puzzling in retrospect that it wasn't even an option for the player who was drafted as a center.

I get that it's not fair to expect Reinhart to be a center when he hasn't shown the ability to do that in the NHL, but it feels like another lost opportunity to see what would have happened in a lost season.

But yeah, 60-65 points at RW while not playing with Eichel should be the goal

UPL starting for Rochester is......... interesting...

Nice work.

Can he elevate a 2C while getting 60-65 points himself at RW? That's the ideal scenario for him imo.

If I could throw another wrench in the works, I have this thought as well: We all know Reinhart is not a center, but does Housley not deserve some blame for not trying Reinhart at center when Eichel was hurt? Or when Mittelstadt struggled? Wouldn't that have at least been interesting? It's kinda puzzling in retrospect that it wasn't even an option for the player who was drafted as a center.

I get that it's not fair to expect Reinhart to be a center when he hasn't shown the ability to do that in the NHL, but it feels like another lost opportunity to see what would have happened in a lost season.

But yeah, 60-65 points at RW while not playing with Eichel should be the goal
- jcragcrumple

ott is not a center!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UPL starting for Rochester is......... interesting...
- gordong

why not?...let him get his feet wet...right?

I think Olofsson-Mittelstadt-Reinhart is a line we can hang our hat on moving forward. Hopefully Skinner resigns so that way we have stability on the top line with him and Eichel. We need another stud top 9 Centre and another winger and a PP coach that knows what he’s doing and we are off to the races.

UPL starting for Rochester is......... interesting...
- gordong

It’s a meaningless game for Rochester. Good for him to get experience. Maybe he steals the show and starts against the Marlies in the playoffs.

UPL starting for Rochester is......... interesting...
- gordong

It’s pretty exciting hopefully he does great and starts in the playoffs

Have any of us even think about a possible rino trade this summer ? Maybe instead of risto

Have any of us even think about a possible rino trade this summer ? Maybe instead of risto
- 716

Yes

Risto and pick 7 for extended Hall and a 2nd.

Remember when we didnt trade risto for hall?

Have any of us even think about a possible rino trade this summer ? Maybe instead of risto
- 716

Are we really in a position where we can afford to lose his 20 goals? Unless you're trading him for a center, but what team is trading a center for a winger? I guess I don't see how it helps. I'd be open to it next year, depending how much he wants

Have any of us even think about a possible rino trade this summer ? Maybe instead of risto
- 716

Nope. Last time I checked, the object is to have good players on your team. We keep listing possible trade scenarios in here where we're trading away our good players. Samson is a good player ... we need to keep him.

Are we really in a position where we can afford to lose his 20 goals? Unless you're trading him for a center, but what team is trading a center for a winger? I guess I don't see how it helps. I'd be open to it next year, depending how much he wants
- jcragcrumple

Fair enough. Didn’t think of it that way

Rhino's skating did improve this year, but he's still about average. The problem with trying him back at center, which might solve some of our issues, is that centers generally have more ice to cover.

Unless he were to transition into more of a two way center a la ROR or Kopitar who don't rely on scoring off the rush...but that's a bit of stretch.

Have any of us even think about a possible rino trade this summer ? Maybe instead of risto
- 716

Agreed with those above, that it doesn't make any sense for the Sabres to trade youth and nhl proven talent away at this point. It's rare for a team to do that, which is what makes the Montour trade so remarkable and underrated.

Risto and pick 7 for extended Hall and a 2nd.

Remember when we didnt trade risto for hall?
- Mentalorgasm5

Can we just do risto for hall

Have any of us even think about a possible rino trade this summer ? Maybe instead of risto
- 716

Risto is 100% gone

If he goes to Tampa it better not be for garbage the starting player better be foote

Can we just do risto for hall
- gerbe75pts

I doubt we would have got dahlin. But skinner, eichel and hall in the top 6 would have been fun.

Risto is 100% gone

If he goes to Tampa it better not be for garbage the starting player better be foote
- gerbe75pts

No he's not

Cal Foote isn't going to be included in any deal for Risto.

Why on earth would Tampa trade a 20 yr old, cost controlled, big RhD, who plays with toughness ready to jump to the NHL for older, expensive, RhD who plays a tough game once in 20 games?

They need toughness, so I do think they will continue to be interested in Risto, 'cause he loves to play tough against Kucherov and Ovie, and 1 or 2 others for his 10 games of toughness per year.

They have 3 Dmen aged 32, 33, 34 consuming $11.2m on a soon to be Cap strapped team needing to find an additional $5m in Cap Space. They need to replace at least 2 if not all three and Cal is targeted for 1 if them.

To get them to include Foote, you better give them another solid Dman, and would absolutely need to take Callahan or Tyler Johnson off their hands. Taking Johnson at 29 next season and 5 years of term at $5m would not be in the best interest of the Sabres.

No he's not
- SABRES 89

I'm with Gerbe. He's 100% gone. I'd bet 34,000 internet points on it. He's one of like 3 tradeable assets with any value

I'm with Gerbe. He's 100% gone. I'd bet 34,000 internet points on it. He's one of like 3 tradeable assets with any value
- jcragcrumple

ok

Cal Foote isn't going to be included in any deal for Risto.

Why on earth would Tampa trade a 20 yr old, cost controlled, big RhD, who plays with toughness ready to jump to the NHL for older, expensive, RhD who plays a tough game once in 20 games?

They need toughness, so I do think they will continue to be interested in Risto, 'cause he loves to play tough against Kucherov and Ovie, and 1 or 2 others for his 10 games of toughness per year.

They have 3 Dmen aged 32, 33, 34 consuming $11.2m on a soon to be Cap strapped team needing to find an additional $5m in Cap Space. They need to replace at least 2 if not all three and Cal is targeted for 1 if them.

To get them to include Foote, you better give them another solid Dman, and would absolutely need to take Callahan or Tyler Johnson off their hands. Taking Johnson at 29 next season and 5 years of term at $5m would not be in the best interest of the Sabres.
- IonSabres

They wont be getting Risto for Callahan, Joseph and 3rd line center.

No Tampa then. Move on to somewhere else.