It was more than 40 years ago, when I was cheering for the Calgary Flames, that another Reinhart was patrolling the blue line for the team. He caught my attention, as one of the best, and most underrated, defenceman in the league.
That was Paul Reinhart who has not one but three sons who played in the NHL. Along with Sam who plays with the Panthers, there is Max who, like his dad, played with the Flames, and Griffin who played with the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers.
The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
In the beginning
Paul Reinhart’s NHL career began before the Calgary Flames existed in their present form. He was drafted 12th overall in the 1979 NHL entry draft by the Atlanta Flames, after a solid junior career with the Kitchener Rangers.
Paul Reinhart’s NHL career began before the Calgary Flames existed in their present form. He was drafted 12th overall in the 1979 NHL entry draft by the Atlanta Flames, after a solid junior career with the Kitchener Rangers.
He made the team, appearing in 79 games in Atlanta, recording nine goals and 38 assists for 47 points. It was the second highest total among rookie defenceman. Only Ray Bourque had more points.
After the season, the Flames were sold and moved to Calgary to start the 1980-1981 season.
Magic ride
The 1980-1981 was a magical first season for the Calgary Flames, and Paul Reinhart was a big part of that. After recording 67 points on 18 goals and 49 assists in 74 games, he tied for the league lead for playoff assists with 14. The Flames beat Chicago in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, beat Philadelphia in seven games in the quarter-finals and took the Minnesota North Stars to six games in the semi-finals. It was a great run for the Flames’ first year in Calgary.
The 1980-1981 was a magical first season for the Calgary Flames, and Paul Reinhart was a big part of that. After recording 67 points on 18 goals and 49 assists in 74 games, he tied for the league lead for playoff assists with 14. The Flames beat Chicago in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, beat Philadelphia in seven games in the quarter-finals and took the Minnesota North Stars to six games in the semi-finals. It was a great run for the Flames’ first year in Calgary.
Reinhart caught the attention of Team Canada, who invited him to pay in the 1981 Canada Cup, but injury limited his play to just two games.
Sustained success
Reinhart had another great season in 1981-1982 with 13 goals and 48 assists for 61 points in 62 games. In 1982-1983, he appeared in 78 games with 17 goals and 58 assists, setting a franchise record for defenceman. He joined Team Canada for the World Championships in 1982 and 1983, winning bronze medals in both tournaments.
Reinhart had another great season in 1981-1982 with 13 goals and 48 assists for 61 points in 62 games. In 1982-1983, he appeared in 78 games with 17 goals and 58 assists, setting a franchise record for defenceman. He joined Team Canada for the World Championships in 1982 and 1983, winning bronze medals in both tournaments.
Comeback
The 1983-1984 season was one of comebacks for Reinhart and the Flames. His action was limited by injury in the regular season. He appeared in just 27 games, recording six goals and 15 assists for 21 points. He was ready for the playoffs, where he had six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 11 playoff games. That was tied for the most points by a player who did not make the finals. In fact, the Flames only played in the first two rounds, but what a run it was.
The 1983-1984 season was one of comebacks for Reinhart and the Flames. His action was limited by injury in the regular season. He appeared in just 27 games, recording six goals and 15 assists for 21 points. He was ready for the playoffs, where he had six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 11 playoff games. That was tied for the most points by a player who did not make the finals. In fact, the Flames only played in the first two rounds, but what a run it was.
After they defeated Vancouver in the first round, they looked to be overmatched by the Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division final. The Oilers went up three games to one, but then something happened. The Flames rallied, winning the next two, including a stirring overtime win on a goal by Lanny McDonald, to force a Game 7. The Oilers prevailed, but it showed it was a season of comebacks for the Flames and for Reinhart.
Stanley Cup run
Reinhart had a career high 23 goals to go with 46 assists for 69 points in the 1984-1985 season. The Flames were defeated by Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs, but Reinhart was selected to his first all-star game, which was in Calgary.
Reinhart had a career high 23 goals to go with 46 assists for 69 points in the 1984-1985 season. The Flames were defeated by Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs, but Reinhart was selected to his first all-star game, which was in Calgary.
Injury hampered his 1985-1986 regular season again, as he played in just 32 games, with eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points. Again, he was ready for the playoffs, and was a big part of Calgary’s run to the Stanley Cup final. He contributed five goals and 13 assists for 18 points in 21 games as Calgary beat Winnipeg in the first round, shocked Edmonton in the Smythe Final, and outlasted St. Louis in seven games in the Campbell Conference Final. They ended up losing to Montreal in the Stanley Cup final in five games.
The end in Calgary
Reinhart was healthy for the 1986-1987 season. He appeared in 76 games where he had 15 goals and 54 assists for 69 assists, finishing fourth among league defencemen. He also played at centre, and scored his 100th career goal in November of 1986. Unfortunately, Calgary lost to Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs.
Reinhart was healthy for the 1986-1987 season. He appeared in 76 games where he had 15 goals and 54 assists for 69 assists, finishing fourth among league defencemen. He also played at centre, and scored his 100th career goal in November of 1986. Unfortunately, Calgary lost to Winnipeg in the first round of the playoffs.
Injury struck again in the 1987-1988 season, as Reinhart played just 14 goals, recording four assists and no goals.
At the subsequent 1988 NHL entry draft, Reinhart was traded to the Vancouver Canucks.
Last laugh – almost
Reinhart’s first year in Vancouver was a comeback that almost culminated in an upset of epic proportions with a healthy helping of irony.
He had seven goals and 50 assists for 57 points in 64 games. The Canucks finished fourth in the Smythe Division, giving them a first-round date in the playoffs with the Calgary Flames. Reinhart was heroic in the series, which saw the Canucks take the Flames to seven games before losing. In those seven games, he recorded two goals and three assists for five points, but his leadership was his biggest contribution. The Canucks are credited with giving the Flames enough of a scare to harden their resolve as they ran to the Stanley Cup championship. So, ironically, Reinhart did play a hand in the Flames winning the Stanley Cup.
Reinhart’s first year in Vancouver was a comeback that almost culminated in an upset of epic proportions with a healthy helping of irony.
He had seven goals and 50 assists for 57 points in 64 games. The Canucks finished fourth in the Smythe Division, giving them a first-round date in the playoffs with the Calgary Flames. Reinhart was heroic in the series, which saw the Canucks take the Flames to seven games before losing. In those seven games, he recorded two goals and three assists for five points, but his leadership was his biggest contribution. The Canucks are credited with giving the Flames enough of a scare to harden their resolve as they ran to the Stanley Cup championship. So, ironically, Reinhart did play a hand in the Flames winning the Stanley Cup.
Reinhart would play the next season, 1989-1990, where he had 17 goals and 40 assists for 57 points in 67 games. For the second straight season he was also named Vancouver’s top defenceman.
However, injuries sunk in their teeth again, and Reinhart announced his retirement in 1990.
He finished his NHL career with 133 goals and 427 assists for 560 points in 648 games.
Parting thoughts
Paul Reinhart has been described as one of the most underrated defenceman of the 1980s. I have several images of Paul Reinhart in my mind. He is carrying the puck into the offensive zone, looking to set up a goal. Then he is back in front of his own net, going down to block a shot or ice the puck on the penalty kill. Then he’s logging 30 minutes of ice time anchoring the Flames’ blue line.
Paul Reinhart has been described as one of the most underrated defenceman of the 1980s. I have several images of Paul Reinhart in my mind. He is carrying the puck into the offensive zone, looking to set up a goal. Then he is back in front of his own net, going down to block a shot or ice the puck on the penalty kill. Then he’s logging 30 minutes of ice time anchoring the Flames’ blue line.
He was a great all-around player, and a leader, so it is no surprise his boys Max, Sam, and Griffin all played in the NHL.
After all, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
No comments:
Post a Comment