New York Islanders Former Draftee Griffin Reinhart to Conference Finals

He isn’t with the New York Islanders anymore, but the former fourth overall pick in the 2012 NHL draft, Griffin Reinhart is on his way to the Western Conference Finals.

At the 2015 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders didn’t have a first-round pick. They had traded it to Buffalo in the Thomas Vanek trade. With a reportedly deep class of players, the Isles desperately wanted to get in on the frenzy.

So they called up Peter Chiarelli out in Edmonton and sent the Oilers the fourth overall pick form the 2012 NHL draft, defenseman Griffin Reinhart. In return, the Islanders got the 16th pick in the draft and the Oilers second round pick in 2015.

At the time of the trade, Reinhart had played but eight NHL games in his career. That’s three seasons out from his draft year and he’s made no impact at the NHL level. But because of that draft pedigree from 2012, the Islanders were able to extract Mathew Barzal at number 16, and get a second first-round pick out of Tampa Bay, a pick they used to get Anthony Beauvillier.

Barzal and Beauvillier are out playing in Denmark right now, while Griffin Reinhart could be on his way to playing in the Western Conference Finals with the Golden Knights.

Called Up To NHL

After the Golden Knights AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves were eliminated from the AHL playoffs they made a number of call-ups. And Griffin Reinhart was one of them.

Oh yeah, after the trade to the Oilers, Edmonton allowed him to be drafted by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft.

Reinhart was a healthy scratch for game five against the Sharks, but he’s around should the Golden Knights need a depth defensive option. But that’s about it. Reinhart isn’t going to immediately jump into the roster right now.

Good for Reinhart. He wasn’t going to get an opportunity with the Islanders, and who says he gets on with the Golden Knights. There’s a reason he was playing with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL all season. Cause he isn’t that good.

Next: Pros and Cons of Trading Up At 2018 Draft

Meanwhile, the Islanders got a Calder nominated player in Mathew Barzal – he’s going to win it – and a kid who ended the season on a 0.725 point per game pace in Anthony Beauvillier. That’s a 60 point season for those counting at home.

It’s no Conference Finals, but the Isles did ok I’d say.