*Photo from WKBW*
After trading Rasmus Ristolainen, the Buffalo Sabres are shipping another face out of town. The Sabres have traded C Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers in exchange for G Devon Levi and a 2022 first round draft pick, which is lottery protected, according to Pierre Lebrun of TSN. The deal has been confirmed by both teams.
Asked about the trade, Reinhart said "It's very exciting, to say the least. I've actually been fortunate enough to play with guys already on the roster. I've been in contact with a bunch of guys already, coaches, I'm absolutely thrilled and motivated to come to a group that's hungry, trying to make it to the next step. They have, in my mind, the most motivated player coming into an organization like that that's trying to make that next step and win some meaningful games."
Reinhart is currently an RFA, having just completed a one year, $5.2 million deal he signed with the Sabres last October as an RFA. He was chosen by Buffalo with the second overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft. He has never made the playoffs with the Sabres.
Last season, Reinhart put up 25 goals and 15 assists, with a career worst -28 plus/minus in an ATOI of 19:32 in 54 of 56 games for the Sabres. In his 7 seasons, Reinhart has 134 goals and 161 assists, with a plus/minus of -97 in 454 games, all with the Sabres. He has never had a season with a positive plus/minus in his career.
Panthers GM Bill Zito said of bringing in Reinhart that "Sam has established himself as one of the best playmaking scorers in the League, and we are thrilled to be able to add him to our Panthers lineup. His competitiveness and hunger to succeed will fit seamlessly with the culture we are building here in South Florida."
Levi was a 7th round draft choice by the Panthers in the 2020 NHL draft. In the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, he was voted the best goalie, with a 6-1-0 record, a 0.75 GAA, and a .964 save percentage in 7 games, backstopping team Canada to second place in the tournament. He is entering his Sophomore season at Northeastern University in Boston.
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