The Buffalo Sabres went with the hockey family strategy as they selected Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice in the Western Hockey League with the second overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft held in Philadelphia.
The third son of former NHL defenseman Paul Reinhart to be drafted after Griffin (a first round, fourth overall, selection by the NY Islanders in 2012) and Max, (Calgary’s third round selection in 2010), the 6’0”, 180 lb. center netted 105 points including 36 goals in 60 games for Kootenay this past season.
“We got the guy that we wanted,” said Sabres General manager Tim Murray. “He’s a guy that I got to see a lot since the January day I was hired in Buffalo. I made it a priority see him in the Prospect Game, follow him that week, get back to him a few weeks later and then again in the playoffs.
“He makes the players around him so much better. His hockey sense separated him from the rest of the players.”
“I’ve been preparing for this for a long time, I’ve been visualizing myself in this uniform and I’m just thrilled and ecstatic to be an impact player and a Buffalo Sabres,” said Reinhart in the media room after his selection.
“It’s (Buffalo) a young team—I’m very familiar with the organization—and I picture myself in this uniform for a long time. I’m very motivated to stick in the league next year…and make an impact.
“It’s looks like a bright future and I’m excited to start the process of stepping in there and start the process of getting better every year.”
Sabres General Manager stated publicly that he also wanted to use his extra second round selections (3) to move up for a second first round selection, but could not find a trade partner.
“I don’t know if I was close,” said Murray. “I offered teams in the late teens to the 20’s (first round draft position) two seconds and I offered one team all three seconds to for one person.”
Warren Kozireski
