Pending NHL UFA Sam Reinhart has become a major star with the Florida Panthers and might have saved their season in Game 4. What does that mean for him moving forward?

Whether it was having the puck on his stick in the slot or his contract situation, you must admit that Sam Reinhart had impeccable timing during the 2023-24 NHL season.

And that will make him a very, very rich man this summer. But will it make him remain with the Florida Panthers, or will a ton of other teams come pouring in to sign him in NHL free agency?

Well, there are a lot of moving parts here. 

Reinhart has enjoyed unprecedented success in South Florida, scoring 121 goals in three seasons, including an otherworldly 57 this past season. He obviously likes it there, and they like him. A lot, a lot, a lot.

Does $10 million times eight years get it done? Can the Panthers, who have only 14 players signed for next season and face the prospect of Aaron Ekblad becoming a UFA in the summer of 2025, even afford to give him that? Which other NHL teams might afford it?

Neither the Panthers nor Reinhart seem terribly concerned with all that at the moment. They're too busy trying to win a Stanley Cup. But when the playoffs finish, it will be fascinating to see how this all plays out.

Here's more:

Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here.