Griffin Reinhart

Griffin Reinhart (born January 24, 1994) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who last played for the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).

He was drafted fourth overall by the New York Islanders in the 2012 NHL entry draft. During his tenure in the National Hockey League (NHL), Reinhart played for the Islanders and the Edmonton Oilers.

Playing career

Major junior After recording 36 points in the regular season, a career high, Reinhart won the 2012 WHL Playoffs with the Oil Kings. Reinhart was selected fourth overall by the New York Islanders, in the 2012 NHL entry draft and signed a three-year entry-level contract with them on August 2, 2012. On September 18, 2012, Reinhart was named captain of the Oil Kings.

Although the Oil Kings qualified for the 2013 WHL Playoffs, Reinhart injured his foot and was unable to play in the WHL finals, won by the Portland Winterhawks. He was named to the WHL (East) Second All-Star Team and WHL Playoff MVP for his efforts. The Oil Kings also named Reinhart and teammate Cody Corbett co-winners of the team’s Top Defenceman award. On May 25, the Oil Kings won the Memorial Cup over the Guelph Storm.

Professional Although Reinhart spent the majority of the 2014–15 season with the Islanders AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he made his NHL debut on October 10, 2014, against the Carolina Hurricanes.

On June 26, 2015, Reinhart was traded by the Islanders to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for the Oilers' 2015 first-round pick (16th overall, Mathew Barzal) and second-round pick (33rd overall, Mitchell Stephens) in the 2015 NHL entry draft.

Having been left exposed by the Oilers at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Reinhart was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights on June 21, 2017. On October 30, Reinhart was sent to the Golden Knights' AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.

After leaving the NHL as a free agent, Reinhart spent his first season abroad, playing with Chinese based HC Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League during the COVID-19 pandemic affected 2019–20 season. He made 33 appearances for Kunlun, registering just 3 assists from the blueline.

As a free agent into the 2020–21 season, Reinhart belatedly joined German club, Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL, for the remainder of the campaign on February 12, 2021.

In August 2021, Reinhart agreed to terms with UK EIHL side Belfast Giants ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Personal life Reinhart's father Paul was an All-Star NHL defenseman for Atlanta/Calgary and Vancouver in the 1980s. Griffin's older brother, Max, was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2010 and his younger brother Sam was drafted second overall in 2014 by the Buffalo Sabres.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2008–09 Vancouver North West Giants BCMML 3 1 3 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 2009–10 Vancouver North West Giants BCMML 32 9 25 34 24 5 3 5 8 14 2009–10 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2010–11 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 45 6 19 25 36 4 0 0 0 6 2011–12 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 58 12 24 36 38 20 2 6 8 20 2012–13 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 59 8 21 29 35 12 3 4 7 5 2013–14 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 45 4 17 21 55 21 4 9 13 18 2014–15 New York Islanders NHL 8 0 1 1 6 1 0 0 0 0 2014–15 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 59 7 15 22 64 — — — — — 2015–16 Edmonton Oilers NHL 29 0 1 1 20 — — — — — 2015–16 Bakersfield Condors AHL 30 2 8 10 16 — — — — — 2016–17 Bakersfield Condors AHL 54 7 14 21 42 — — — — — 2016–17 Edmonton Oilers NHL — — — — — 1 0 1 1 0 2017–18 Chicago Wolves AHL 60 2 10 12 30 3 0 1 1 4 2018–19 Chicago Wolves AHL 75 4 12 16 27 21 1 6 7 12 2019–20 Kunlun Red Star KHL 33 0 2 2 6 — — — — — 2020–21 Iserlohn Roosters DEL 22 3 8 11 10 3 0 1 1 2 2021–22 Belfast Giants EIHL 53 3 29 32 8 4 0 1 1 0 NHL totals 37 0 2 2 26 2 0 1 1 0

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2011 Canada Pacific U17 6 1 6 7 4 2012 Canada IH18 5 0 0 0 6 2013 Canada WJC 4th 5 0 1 1 8 2014 Canada WJC 4th 4 1 1 2 2 Junior totals 20 2 8 10 20

Awards and honours Award Year WHL East Second All-Star Team 2014 WHL Playoff MVP 2014 Memorial Cup champion 2014 Ed Chynoweth Cup champion 2012, 2014