Reinhart signs NHL contract with Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team signed forward Sam Reinhart to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The second overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Reinhart (age 18, 6'1", 190 lbs.) became the Sabres' highest draft pick since the team selected Pierre Turgeon first overall in 1987. He joins the Sabres organization after playing four years in the Western Hockey League for the Kootenay Ice. In addition to serving as Kootenay's captain in 2013-14, he was named the WHL 2013-14 Player of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year.

"We are very excited to have Sam under contract," said Sabres General Manager Tim Murray. "We look forward to watching him develop and become an important part of our organization in the future."

In 2013-14, Reinhart led Kootenay with 105 points (36 goals, 69 assists) in 60 games, tying for fourth overall in the WHL. He also led his team with 23 points (6/17) in 13 playoff games, advancing three rounds before Kootenay fell to the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Conference Championship.

Through his four seasons with Kootenay and the WHL, the North Vancouver, British Columbia, native recorded 254 points (101/153) in 203 games. Additionally, he captained Canada's gold medal-winning teams at both the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial and the 2013 Under-18 World Championship.