Panthers forward Sam Reinhart is the top-scoring forward that’s eligible to hit the open market this summer. With a career-best 37 goals already along with 62 points, he’s well on his way to commanding a significant raise on his current $6.5MM AAV while securing a long-term pact for the first time. Speaking with reporters including Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News, he acknowledged that talks continue but the fact a deal isn’t done isn’t serving as a distraction:
We both know where each other stands. We both know we want to get something done. And we’re both comfortable with how it’s going, so it’s not distracting me by any means at all. I think when you’re trying to build something we’re trying to in Florida, some things take time. We’re both comfortable, we’re both trying to ultimately win a Stanley Cup this year. And that’s where our focus mainly is.
If Reinhart pushes past the 100-point mark plateau this season, there’s a case to be made that his next contract should be past the $10MM mark. However, that’d be tough to fit on the books for the Panthers who would likely want to see him slot in at or closer to Matthew Tkachuk’s $9.5MM price tag.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:
- Ducks winger Frank Vatrano is having his best season, notching 36 points in 50 games already to secure an All-Star spot. With one year left on his contract at $3.65MM and Anaheim in a firm rebuild, some have wondered if the 29-year-old could be a trade candidate. Speaking to reporters on All-Star Media Day including Forever Blueshirts’ Jim Cerny, Vatrano acknowledged the situation is out of his hands but that he’d prefer to remain with the Ducks. That said, teams looking for some scoring help on the wing and don’t want to pay a high price tag for a rental will likely be calling about Vatrano over the next few weeks.
- If the Penguins opt to sell at the trade deadline, Jake Guentzel would obviously receive the most interest. Beyond him, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette suggests that defenseman Marcus Pettersson might be their next-best trade chip. The 27-year-old has had one of his more productive years with 19 points in 46 games while averaging a career-high 22:37 per night, third among Pittsburgh’s rearguards. With one year left on his deal after this one with a cap hit of just over $4.025MM, he could certainly be an intriguing acquisition for a playoff-bound team looking for more than a one-year rental.
- Devils prospect Samu Salminen received a one-game suspension from Hockey East for a hit on Friday night, notes Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal (Twitter link). The 20-year-old was a third-round pick by New Jersey back in 2021 but has seen his production this season with Connecticut slow down, notching just five goals and five assists in 26 games (after putting up 17 points in 27 games in his freshman year).
As of the all star break Reinhart averages 50 points a year for his career, How do GMs come to the conclusion that after a single 100 point season if Reinhart reaches that mark is he suddenly worth more than double his annual income on his next contract? This is where GMs get into alot of trouble! If Florida wants to be fair and intelligent about resigning Reinhart it should be 4 years at 7 million per.
Intelligence and fairness? It’s called a market. You can either pay the going rate (10 million) or let someone else overpay for him. How do you come to the conclusion that he is not worth the money? You’re confusing sustainability and intelligent investment with simple analysis. Simply put, if you offered 4 years / 7 million, you’d probably destroy the relationship with the player.
Frank absolutely no defense Vatrano.
Frank gonna bury 35 goals this season Vatrano
He can get 40+ this season.
Let the scorers score and the non-scorers do the back checking.
Frank The Tank