How fine is Sam Reinhart?

[dudacek]

Lost in the Eichel press conference was this nugget from Jason Botterill: "That's one of the strengths of our organization right now, having the ability of Jack and O'Reilly and Reinhart down the middle."

 

A far cry from his initial press conference, where he gave the impression that he considered Sam a winger.

 

Sam Reinhart generally falls into one of three camps on Sabrespace:

 

1) He's OK, but he's never going to be the top player you hope a 2nd overall pick would be. Trade him for needed pieces before all the other GMs come to the same conclusion.

 

2) He might become a good centre, but on this team, he's a 3rd line centre. He is also one of our best wingers and his team needs good wingers more than it needs a 3rd line centre. Play him with one of our great centres to maximize his effectiveness and theirs. There is no shame in being a Patrick Sharp.

 

3) He's fine on the wing, but he's a natural centre. Let him develop there and you could create a situation where our centre depth will create some serious mismatches. He will still play wing on the PP and can always move there late in games when we shorten the bench.

 

It's a debate that's been going on for two years and it will continue as Housley appears to give option three its first serious trial.

 

And since it pops up continuously in all kinds of threads, I thought it might be good to centralize the discussion here.

 

What do you think of the way Sam is being used, and how he has performed?

And how do you see the situation playing itself out throughout the season and beyond?

Edited October 6, 2017 by dudacek

[sabresparaavida]

I put him as a natural center, with steady improvement over the course of a season.

[Weave]

I voted versatile asset. And a probable drop in points due to lesser linemates.

 

He's fine. The question is where is he most valuable to the team in the win column.

[darksabre]

I think it's good to have Sam. Play him at wing or center, whatever we need him to do. 

But if the 3rd line wingers can't score when he gives them the opportunities, then we're leaving points on the table. 

[Weave]

I think it's good to have Sam. Play him at wing or center, whatever we need him to do.

 

But if the 3rd line wingers can't score when he gives them the opportunities, then we're leaving points on the table.

Yup.

[French Collection]

I like your third option, keep him at centre, play wing on PP and when the bench is shortened.

Let's give him at least half a season in that position. Someone from Rochester may make some noise and make the leap to help his wing.

[dudacek]

Very interesting quote from Sam in the Buffalo News:

"One mistake I've made in the past is viewing switching center as a demotion," Reinhart said. "That's not the way to be looking at it at all. This is an opportunity for me to get another line going, get another line on the scoresheet every night playing with some good players. I'm looking at it completely different with a fresh mentality and I'm excited about it."

[SDS]

Very interesting quote from Sam in the Buffalo News:

"One mistake I've made in the past is viewing switching center as a demotion," Reinhart said. "That's not the way to be looking at it at all. This is an opportunity for me to get another line going, get another line on the scoresheet every night playing with some good players. I'm looking at it completely different with a fresh mentality and I'm excited about it."

 

Did he just self-confirm reports about his bad/entitled attitude? (Which I have no source for - just going on memory)

[Randall Flagg]

I have no idea what to think of Sam until I get a real sample size of him at C. Projections and speculation don't mean anything to me until then. 

If he has to go back to wing then he's going to be a very nice, smart wing for us. If that's the case then I wish we drafted someone else, but obviously hindsight is 20/20 and at least we don't have Michael Dal Colle. I wouldn't hold that against him and would enjoy his career here.

[erickompositör72]

Would love to have him and Kane a line for a time. Don't know if that messes up other lines, though...

[inkman]

Oh he fiiiiiiine.

[Neo]

He’s a good winger with good centers UNTIL he’s a good center AFTER we find good wingers.

 

 

I’d play him at wing until a prospect or two breaks through to play on his wing.

[nfreeman]

I didn't answer the poll questions, because there isn't enough data on him at C.  What I want to see, though, is him succeeding at #3 C and continuing to play on the top PP.

[Drunkard]

I'm fine with him being versatile down the road, but he's already shown he can be productive on the wing and he needs to cut his teeth as an NHL center by predominantly playing center this season. I'm sure most of us can agree that we're not likely to win the Cup this year (new Coach, new System, still waiting on some of the kids to replace the cap anchors, etc.) so this is the perfect time for him to play center.

 

I'd rather get him acclimated to playing center now. I don't want to stick him back on the wing for months with little to no time at center and wind up being force to put him back at center during a playoff push (or actual playoffs) because of an injury to O'Reilly or Eichel.

[Taro T]

Keep him at 3C primarily. Move him around as matchups / situations dictate.

 

I'd expect him to grow into a very good 3C/ meh 2C. Liked that his line's 1st shift was against Moe-ray-all's 4th line. Housley was trying to get mismatches when he could. Letting Reinhart have the opportunity to grow into an NHL C should help create more of those, & minimize how often they happen against the Sabres on the road.

[Thorny]

Very interesting quote from Sam in the Buffalo News:

"One mistake I've made in the past is viewing switching center as a demotion," Reinhart said. "That's not the way to be looking at it at all. This is an opportunity for me to get another line going, get another line on the scoresheet every night playing with some good players. I'm looking at it completely different with a fresh mentality and I'm excited about it."

So in his heart of hearts he'd prefer playing wing here? Am I reading/inferring inaccurately?

[dudacek]

So in his heart of hearts he'd prefer playing wing here? Am I reading/inferring inaccurately?

I read it that Sam used to feel the same way as We've and Bylsma, that if he's not with the other top forwards he's not playing as important a role.

[Doohickie]

He's all that and more (including the captain*).

 

 

 

 

*of the tandem bicycle when he rides with Jack.

So in his heart of hearts he'd prefer playing wing here? Am I reading/inferring inaccurately?

 

He'd prefer being in the Top Six. 

[3putt]

And better numbers in a contract year on Jack's wing.

[Weave]

Very interesting quote from Sam in the Buffalo News:

"One mistake I've made in the past is viewing switching center as a demotion," Reinhart said. "That's not the way to be looking at it at all. This is an opportunity for me to get another line going, get another line on the scoresheet every night playing with some good players. I'm looking at it completely different with a fresh mentality and I'm excited about it."

 

Proof that Sam wasn't upset over not playing his "natural position".

[Thorny]

Proof that Sam wasn't upset over not playing his "natural position".

Which is quite interesting.

[BuffaloBorn]

He would only be a very good winger 

His potential at center is elite
play him at center

Edited October 7, 2017 by BuffaloBorn

[Weave]

Which is quite interesting.

I can't imagine even ROR being disappointed at playing on Jacks wing. It seemed like such a crazy speculative reasoning to me.

[Randall Flagg]

Was the question that Sam didn't appreciate being at wing, or that he asked to be at center? Because I am 100% positive that Sam has expressed interest in playing his position within the past year and a half. I don't see how him viewing 3rd line center as a demotion from top 6 wing early in his career negates that, it just shows that he wasn't upset to be on the wing in the top 6. 

Let it beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, we'll survive a few more games of this 

[Thorny]

Was the question that Sam didn't appreciate being at wing, or that he asked to be at center? Because I am 100% positive that Sam has expressed interest in playing his position within the past year and a half. I don't see how him viewing 3rd line center as a demotion from top 6 wing early in his career negates that, it just shows that he wasn't upset to be on the wing in the top 6.

Let it beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, we'll survive a few more games of this

 

I'm there. I liked what we saw from him yesterday. I'm good with continuing Sam at C. At the very least, for now.

Edited October 7, 2017 by Thorny