Sam Reinhart Bio
Samson Reinhart, known professionally as Sam Reinhart, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Reinhart has developed into one of the league’s most reliable two-way forwards. He won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025, cementing his place among the NHL’s premier performers.
Born on November 6, 1995, in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Reinhart comes from a deep hockey lineage and has represented Canada at multiple international tournaments, including the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 196 pounds, he shoots right and has built a reputation for his scoring touch, defensive responsibility, and leadership qualities.
Early Life and Background
Sam Reinhart was born in West Vancouver, British Columbia, to Theresa and Paul Reinhart. His father, Paul Reinhart, was a former NHL All-Star defenceman who later became a stock market financier and promoter. Growing up in a hockey-centric household, Sam was naturally drawn to the sport, and he wore jersey number 23 in Buffalo, the same number his father wore during his NHL career.
Reinhart attended Collingwood School in West Vancouver, where he balanced academics with a busy athletic schedule. Outside of hockey, he played tennis in high school and continues to enjoy the sport during offseasons. He also played baseball, lacrosse, and soccer while growing up, and considers himself a passionate soccer fan. He began playing minor ice hockey at the Hollyburn Country Club in West Vancouver, originally as a defenceman before eventually transitioning to centre.
From there, Reinhart joined the Vancouver Northwest Giants of the BC Hockey Major Midget League, where he played alongside future NHL forward Alexander Kerfoot. In his only full season with the Giants, he tallied 38 goals and 40 assists, won the 2010-11 BCMML championship, and earned Top Scorer and Top Forward honours at the 2011 Telus Cup. He also won gold with British Columbia at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.
Path to Hockey
Sam Reinhart’s path to the NHL began with his selection 15th overall by the Kootenay Ice in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft. He joined the Kootenay Ice for four games during the 2010-11 season and scored the game-winning goal against the Edmonton Oil Kings in his WHL debut, a game that also marked the first WHL contest featuring all three Reinhart brothers. The Ice won the Ed Chynoweth Cup that season, giving Sam an early taste of championship hockey.
In his first full WHL season in 2011-12, Reinhart registered 62 points and tied for the team lead with 28 goals, the most by any 16-year-old rookie in the league. His performance earned him the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s top rookie. The following season, he led the Ice in goals, assists, and points with 85, earned a spot on the WHL Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team, and was named captain of the Ice for the 2013-14 season.
Reinhart’s junior career peaked when he was ranked fourth on NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s midterm rankings for North American skaters ahead of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He captained Team Cherry at the 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, with his father Paul serving as one of the assistant coaches. He also represented Canada at the 2014 World Junior Championships alongside his brother Griffin.
Sam Reinhart Career
Early Career (2014-2017)
After being selected second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Sam Reinhart signed a three-year entry-level contract and made the team’s opening night roster for the 2014-15 season. He debuted on October 9, 2014, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, becoming the sixth-youngest player to dress for the Sabres in franchise history. After recording a single assist in nine games, he was returned to the Kootenay Ice, where he set franchise records and finished third on the team in scoring with 65 points in 47 games.
Reinhart scored his first NHL goal on October 17, 2015, against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and recorded his first NHL hat-trick on January 10, 2016, in a 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. He became the first Sabres player to record a hat-trick since 2006 and finished his rookie season with 23 goals and 42 points over 79 games. In 2016-17, he set a new career high with 47 points, although the Sabres once again missed the playoffs.
Buffalo Sabres Tenure (2017-2021)
Sam Reinhart began his third full NHL season in 2017-18 as a centreman but was reunited with Jack Eichel and Evander Kane on the top line after a slow start. After scoring just 11 points in his first 34 games, Reinhart caught fire down the stretch, accumulating 18 goals and 19 assists over the final 38 games. He scored his second career NHL hat-trick on April 1, 2018, in a 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators, finishing the season with career highs across multiple categories.
On September 19, 2018, Reinhart signed a two-year, $7.3 million contract extension to remain in Buffalo, and later signed a one-year, $5.2 million deal on October 25, 2020. Throughout his Sabres tenure, he battled inconsistency and constant line juggling but emerged as one of Buffalo’s most dependable scorers. On July 24, 2021, he was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltending prospect Devon Levi and a first-round pick, closing a chapter that spanned seven NHL seasons.
Florida Panthers Era (2021-Present)
Sam Reinhart joined the Florida Panthers in 2021 and quickly became a central figure in the team’s transformation into a Stanley Cup contender. On August 11, 2021, he signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract and flourished in a depth-scoring role that highlighted his two-way game. On June 24, 2024, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, Reinhart scored the decisive goal that gave Florida a 2-1 lead and delivered the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship.
Following that triumph, Reinhart signed an eight-year, $69 million contract extension on July 1, keeping him with the Panthers through the 2031-32 season. During the 2024-25 regular season, he led Florida with 39 goals and 81 points in 79 games and was named a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward. In the 2025 playoffs, he helped the Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions, scoring four goals in the Cup-clinching Game 6 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, the first player to accomplish that feat in a Final game since Maurice Richard in 1957.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sam Reinhart is widely regarded as one of the NHL’s most complete two-way forwards, blending high-end scoring touch with responsible defensive play. His skating acceleration and playmaking improved dramatically under long-time skating coach Barb Aidelbaum, and his versatility allows coaches to deploy him at centre or on either wing. His ability to contribute on the power play, win faceoffs, and generate offence against top competition made him a finalist for the Selke Trophy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Sam Reinhart’s most iconic moments was scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal in Game 7 of the 2024 Final and then erupting for four goals in the Cup-clinching Game 6 of the 2025 Final. He also became the youngest Sabres player to record a hat-trick since 1984 and the first to do so since 2006. His franchise-record 287 and 300 career WHL points while with the Kootenay Ice remain defining achievements of his junior career.
Sam Reinhart Career Wins
Sam Reinhart has collected significant championship hardware at every level of hockey, from junior leagues to international play to the NHL. His back-to-back Stanley Cup victories with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025 stand as the crowning achievements of his professional career. He has also won gold medals representing Canada at the under-18 and world junior levels.
NHL Highlights
In the NHL, Reinhart’s most celebrated wins came during the Florida Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup runs in 2024 and 2025. He scored the Cup-winning goal in Game 7 of the 2024 Final and tallied four goals in the Cup-clinching Game 6 of the 2025 Final. He also earned multiple wins with the Buffalo Sabres early in his career, including his first NHL goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015 and his first hat-trick against the Winnipeg Jets in 2016.
Other Wins & Performances
Before turning professional, Sam Reinhart won the Ed Chynoweth Cup with the Kootenay Ice in 2010-11 and the BCMML championship with the Vancouver Northwest Giants in 2010-11. Internationally, he won gold at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, gold at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships, gold at the 2015 World Junior Championships, and gold at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. He also earned silver at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
Sam Reinhart Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sam Reinhart comes from one of hockey’s most prominent families. His father, Paul Reinhart, was a former NHL All-Star defenceman who played in the league for 11 seasons and later became a successful stock market financier. Sam has two brothers who also played professional hockey: Max Reinhart, who was selected in the third round of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames, and Griffin Reinhart, who was selected fourth overall by the New York Islanders in 2012. The three brothers even played together briefly on the Kootenay Ice.
Personal Life
Sam Reinhart prefers to be called Samson, his full given name, although he has been known as Sam throughout most of his career. His longtime nickname with the Buffalo Sabres was Reino, a moniker that carried over to his Panthers teammates. Off the ice, Reinhart enjoys tennis and remains an avid soccer fan. In a notable off-ice moment, he stepped up to care for the cat of former Panthers teammate Anthony Stolarz after Stolarz signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
2025 Season Performance
Sam Reinhart’s 2024-25 season represented the most productive offensive campaign of his NHL career. He paced the Florida Panthers with 39 goals and 81 points in 79 regular-season games, establishing himself as the team’s primary scoring threat. His two-way excellence was recognized with a Selke Trophy finalist nomination, further validating his status as one of the league’s most complete forwards.
During the 2025 playoffs, Reinhart elevated his play on the sport’s biggest stage, helping the Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in the Final for the second consecutive year. His four-goal performance in the Cup-clinching Game 6 will be remembered as one of the great individual showings in modern Final history.
Looking beyond 2025, Reinhart’s long-term future in Florida is secured through his eight-year contract extension, and on December 31, 2025, he was named to Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. With his Panthers locked in as perennial contenders and his international career reaching new heights, Reinhart enters the coming years firmly established as one of hockey’s most accomplished stars.
