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Throw the D: Cole Reinhardt Turning Heads with the Florida Panthers
TL;DR
Cole Reinhardt, a 26-year-old forward, is making an impact with the Florida Panthers after being claimed off waivers on March 6. With six seasons of professional experience, he previously played for Ottawa and Vegas.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
SUNRISE — Cole Reinhardt may be one of many new faces on the Florida Panthers, but he is not one of the youngsters who was just elevated from the AHL, playing his first NHL games.
At 26, Reinhardt (not to be confused with Panthers’ leading scorer Sam Reinhart) has been a pro for six seasons, having NHL experience with Ottawa and Vegas albeit mainly in their farm system.
Prior to being claimed off waivers at the deadline on March 6 for depth — with the assumption, at the time, Florida was moving pending free agent A.J. Greer — Reinhardt had 62 NHL games under his belt.
He had a grand total of four goals.
Reinhardt had two goals in Florida’s 3-2 win over the New York Rangers on Monday, including the game winner with 1:50 left to spoil Jonathan Quick’s final NHL game.
With a goal in each of his previous two games, Reinhardt’s output in the past three games matched his entire career to date.
Add an earlier goal against Edmonton in his third game as a Panther and you can consider this a career year in just 14 games.
Reinhardt had three goals in 44 games with Vegas this season prior to coming to Florida.
Tuesday was his first multi-goal NHL game.
His 16:03 of ice time was his highest as a Panther.
With 13 regulars again missing last night against the Rangers, coach Paul Maurice had to do another magic act with his lines.
Greer and Tomas Nosek were moved up to the first and third lines respectively.
The youngsters and bottom sixers were interspersed on the top three lines.
The fourth line consisted of Reinhardt, Luke Kunin, and Vinnie Hinostroza. Kunin and Hinostroza both assisted on Reinhardt’s goals.
After the game, Reinhardt was looking back — and ahead.
“It’s a new chapter in my career and there’s a little success happening right now,’’ he said. “I try to run with it. Just try to play the right way.”
Unlike some of the other newcomers, Reinhardt’s contract — which was signed with Vegas last summer, is a one-way and is through next season at a team friendly $812,500.
Reinhardt knows, however, that come training camp once the regulars are back, he will have to prove himself all over again.
So far, he has done everything he can to put himself in a good spot moving forward.
“It’s in the back of your head,’’ Reinhardt said. “You want to make a good impression when you come in. Try to play the right way and be in the lineup for next year.”
Maurice has made it a point of giving newcomers ample opportunity to make an impression.
He has had no hesitancy to put them on the ice in key situations.
“We’ve had a lot of these guys come in, play a fourth-line role, scratch-and-claw to get to the National Hockey League. So, we just felt they deserve to be on the ice. So we ran those guys hard at the end and good for Reinhardt to score his second. It paid off for him. …
“He’s hard on pucks. He moves well. He’s not afraid to get into the corners first. He’s got a good release. He’s got a good shot…He certainly stood out.”
Tomorrow is another day.
With Detroit in town and neither team in the postseason, it will be another showcase for those hoping to stick in the NHL.
For Reinhardt, he just hopes this is the start of a beautiful relationship.
With Greer having a career-year himself and, being a free agent, he may just cash in somewhere else next season.
Reinhardt may just replace him on this team after all.
ON DECK: GAME No. 82
DETROIT RED WINGS at FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
- **Where:**Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (SW Fla)
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
- Radio: WQAM; WBZT 1230-AM (West Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); WCZR 101.7-FM (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL/Panthers App
- Last Season: Detroit won 2-1
- This Season (Panthers Lead 2-1) — At Detroit:Wings 4, Panthers 1 (Oct. 15); Panthers 3, Wings 1. At Florida: Panthers 4, Wings 3 (March 10); Wednesday
- All-time Regular Season Series: Florida leads 42-22-7, 5 ties
- **Up Next for the Panthers:**Season Complete; NHL Draft Lottery, May 5
This article: Throw the D: Cole Reinhardt Turning Heads with the Florida Panthers originally appeared on Florida Hockey Now.
Q&A
Who is Cole Reinhardt and what is his background in the NHL?
Cole Reinhardt is a 26-year-old forward with six seasons of professional experience, having played primarily in the NHL with Ottawa and Vegas.
When was Cole Reinhardt claimed off waivers by the Florida Panthers?
Cole Reinhardt was claimed off waivers by the Florida Panthers on March 6.
What teams did Cole Reinhardt play for before joining the Florida Panthers?
Before joining the Florida Panthers, Cole Reinhardt played for the Ottawa Senators and the Vegas Golden Knights.
How many NHL games has Cole Reinhardt played prior to joining the Panthers?
Prior to joining the Panthers, Cole Reinhardt had played 62 NHL games.
