New Jersey Devils: 5 Alternative Trade Targets to Timo Meier
4. Sam Reinhart – Florida Panthers
Versatile forward Sam Reinhart became a Florida Panther in July 2021 after taking a while to find his footing with the Buffalo Sabres. In return, Reinhart posted 82 points in 78 games in his first season down in Sunrise. This season has been a different story, however, as Reinhart has struggled to keep that form. The Panthers traded away longtime star Jonathan Huberdeau and top blueliner Mackenzie Weeger to Calgary for Matthew Tkachuk. While Tkachuk has been excellent, the team is still feeling the effects of the cap bind they are in.
Sam Reinhart finds twine with a wicked redirect in tight for his second goal tonight, Panthers lead 2-1!#TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/AsXs0p8NZC
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) February 10, 2023
Reinhart will be eligible for free agency next summer (2024) and is currently making a modest $6,500,000 on his current deal. If the Panthers can recoup a first-round pick for Reinhart, they might be able to use it to dump Sergei Bobrovsky and his $10,000,000 salary to upgrade the team while Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov are still in the primes of their careers.
If Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils are shrewd enough, they have the requisite firepower to pounce on this unique opportunity. The Devils can accommodate that cost if it’s just a first-round pick the Panthers seek. While it isn’t Timo Meier, Reinhart can be a very good forward when paired with this group.