Rumor: Reinhart trade could be key to Sabres’ rebuild

In his latest article for SB Nation’s Die by the Blade, Buffalo Sabres blogger Matt Kopnak breaks down the latest trade rumors concerning 21-year-old forward Sam Reinhart. The former 2nd overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft has sputtered to begin his NHL career, while the player selected after him at 3rd overall, Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, has emerged as a legit NHL star.

With Reinhart and the Sabres struggling, it’s no surprise that Reinhart finds himself at the center of trade speculation. But, would the team be wise to cut bait with the youngster so soon? According to Kopnak, the time is now:

In a sense by default, he is the player I would choose to trade in order to shake up the roster and inject speed into the Sabres top six. Reinhart hasn't lived up to his lofty draft status, but should still hold decent value around the league. At 21-years-old and trending in the direction of a bridge contract next offseason, Reinhart would be a very nice cost controlled option for a team looking for a player to compliment a star.

Ultimately it's a very tough decision, but I'm a believer in the old adage that it's far better to trade a player too soon rather than too late.

Ouch. That’s a pretty blunt assessment for a player who is just two full seasons into his NHL career. If the Sabres were to cut bait with Reinhart so early, expect other rebuilding teams like the Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings and Arizona Coyotes to line up serious offers for the talented youngster.