Sam Reinhart says contract discussions with Florida Panthers are ‘ongoing’ and ‘definitely positive’

Sam Reinhart knew the question was coming but still cracked a smile ear-to-ear. The ink was barely dry on William Nylander’s new $92 million deal, which was signed while the Florida Panthers were in Vail enjoying a rare day off after a game in Denver. Did the pending free agent Reinhart hear about the new mega contract?

“I’m a fan of the game,” Reinhart said on latest episode of Frankly Speaking. “It’s tough to not keep track of it.”

How will Nylander’s deal help set the market for the hottest scorer in hockey?

Reinhart, 28, is used to notching 30 goals – just not by January. With 29 goals, he is two back of Auston Matthews for the league lead. He is also on track for the second-best assist total of his career. Reinhart leads the league in power play goals (14) and is shooting the lights out with an NBA-like 27.4 percent shooting percentage.

Reinhart said discussions are “ongoing” with the Panthers on an extension and things are “definitely positive.”

“Being in a contract year isn’t something new to me,” Reinhart said. “I’ve got no problem with contract negotiations being ongoing, it’s not taking away from my preparation or how I handle day to day. That’s kind of where I stay in my head, kind of my focus. The interest is definitely mutual and definitely positive.”

Reinhart said he wants to remain in Florida.

“That’s the goal. I love it in Florida and I know they’re happy to have me,” Reinhart said. “I’m just happy with where we’re at as a team right now.”

Nylander was taken six picks after Reinhart in the 2014 NHL Draft. Nylander is on pace for 45 goals and 78 assists for 123 points; Reinhart is on track for 59 goals and 45 assists for 104 points. They are two different stylistic players, of course, but both players trended on a similar development timeline in terms of their ascent to NHL stardom.

The truth is Nylander’s new deal likely won’t have a significant impact, at least in terms of the end result salary cap hit that fans see, on a new deal for Reinhart if he re-signs with the Panthers – due to the 17 percent difference in tax. At $9.5 million per year AAV, Matthew Tkachuk will net more in pay than Nylander’s $11.5 million. In fact, a player in Toronto would need to earn $12.875 million per year to be equivalent in net pay to Tkachuk’s $9.5 million, according to the tax calculator at Gavin Hockey Wealth Specialists.

Here’s my conversation with Sam Reinhart, the Florida Panthers’ newest All-Star, who was born to be a hockey player: