Predictably, the NHL Network shut out the Buffalo Sabres in their Top 20 Wingers Ranking, but one former member of the Blue and Gold got a raw deal on the list despite posting a career season.
Sam Reinhart, who won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers this past year, finished his 2023-24 campaign with an outrageous 57 goals, 94 points, and 27 power play goals. But it still wasn’t enough to rank him any higher than ninth on the list.
Yeah, and while Reinhart was by no means Artemi Panarin or Nikita Kucherov, playing that well definitely should have placed him third. And yeah, I know, there were plenty of wingers out there who finished with more points than the 94 Reinhart put up, but still, how many more wingers were more effective last season?
Plus, his teammate, Matthew Tkachuk, took second on the list after a 26-goal, 62-assist season, which is definitely worthy of the top five. In his defense, Tkachuk also had a legendary playoff performance, but it still wasn’t enough for him to surpass Kucherov, whose Tampa Bay Lightning saw a first-round exit.
Former Sabres winger deserved better in a recent ranking
Sam Reinhart also finished 12th for the Hart Trophy and snagged fourth place in consideration for the Selke Trophy. Overall, or as far as the regular season goes, that's what these rankings should ultimately be based on since some of the top players at their respective positions may not even find themselves in the postseason.
Either way you look at it, Reinhart was far superior to Tkachuk in nearly every aspect. Sure, you can argue that Tkachuk is an outstanding playmaker, and nobody can deny that following yet another year in which he logged 60-plus assists.
Still, Reinhart was playing at another level for most of 2023-24 and the fact the NHL Network ranked him ninth implies a lack of respect. Anyway, it won’t be long until we see Reinhart back on the ice for the Florida Panthers as the Sabres Atlantic Division rival looks to defend its first-ever Stanley Cup Championship.
Reinhart will be an integral part of the franchise for years to come, and there’s a good chance he builds off of what was an incredible 2023-24 season.
(Statistics powered by Hockey-Reference)