Just Who Is Griffin Reinhart

The Just Who Is series continues with defenseman Griffin Reinhart.

Now – if you’re an Edmontonian and you’re asking yourself – Who is Griffin Reinhart. Then we need to talk.

Ringing any bells??

Reinhart captained the Edmonton Oil Kings to Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup titles and played a key role in doing so. Standing at 6’4 and weighing roughly 210 pounds, he’s a big, physical player that has yet to really gain momentum in the NHL.

He is also known for his play at the World Junior Championships as part of the reigning World Champion Team Canada squad.

NOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE HIM?!

Of course you do!

The Reinhart family has a pretty huge connection to the NHL. Griffin is the son of Paul Reinhart a former NHLer who played for the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks from 1979-1990. Griffin’s older brother Max was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2010 and his younger brother Sam was drafted second overall in 2014 by the Buffalo Sabres.

Griffin Reinhart, a 21 year old d-man, was drafted 4^th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2012 entry draft, and spent most of last season in the AHL, playing for the Islanders affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he put up 22 points (7 goals/15 assists) in 49 games. He managed to squeeze in 8 NHL games with the Islanders, knocking out one assist last season.

It’s no secret that the Edmonton Oilers have wanted Reinhart from the beginning and finally got their chance this summer trading their 16^th and 33^rd picks in a very deep draft for the big defenseman. That’s a significant amount to pay for someone who is not a well established NHL player. Reinhart has his work cut out for him as he is going to be forever held to high expectations as the fourth overall draft pick. As a young, talented, highly drafted prospect, it’s odd to see him get moved this early on in his career. Did the Islanders give up on him too early? That’s what the Oilers (and Oilers fans) are hoping.

Reinhart is a shutdown defenseman, he’s not there to put out a lot of offense, but the kid has great hands and smart hockey sense, so I anticipate that we will see more out of him than expected when he hits his stride. Despite some of the early critics, Reinhart managed to tally 22 points in 59 games in his rookie season in the AHL. He ranked in the top 10 for rookie defenseman in scoring and he only played 59 of the 80-ish games a full season would demand. All in all, that’s actually pretty decent.

Are there concerns? Yes – his foot speed and mobility aren’t quite up to par, but he’s 21 years old and still has lots of developing to do. He’s a very smart hockey player, he works hard and he can put up a lot of minutes.

(Pssst – that’s a workhorse)

When asked about his return to Edmonton in a telephone interview with Rob Tychkowski from the Edmonton Sun, Reinhart stated:

“I played there for four years so I know a lot of people in the organization, I’m excited.”

“It is in a rebuild stage”…

HOLD UP!!!!

WAIT – the Oilers are rebuilding?!?!

Ok, sorry to interrupt….

Reinhart continues on saying;

“I’m excited to get the opportunity, but there are a lot of defencemen in the organization who are trying to make the team as much as I am. If there is a spot up for grabs I have to make sure I capitalize on it. I can still work on my game, I have a lot to work on, but I think I can play at the NHL level. I think my foot speed is better than I get credit for. I’m a bigger man and move deceptively.”

The bottom line is that the Oilers are extremely weak on the blue line and while they have prospect after prospect in Klefbom, Nurse, Musil, Oesterle, Larson, Davidson – Reinhart is just another very strong potential link in the chain.

I’m a fan of Griffin Reinhart the junior player, I’m a fan of Griffin Reinhart the Team Canada and Edmonton Oil Kings alumni. The NHL, however, is a different entity and I’m not sold yet – and that’s ok! There’s still lots of potential in this young guy, and still lots of time for him to develop.

In closing…enjoy this little WHL tilt between Reinhart and Jaimen Yakubowski.

Thanks for reading!