Griffin Reinhart
Griffin Reinhart (born January 24, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing with 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 NHL, Reinhart played for the Islanders and the Edmonton Oilers. Despite still playing professional hockey, his high draft position relative to his overall NHL performance causes him to be considered a large draft bust in the NHL. 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. In his last year in the WHL, Reinhart helped lead the Oil Kings to their second WHL  Championship within three years on May 12, 2014. 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 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 terms with UK EIHL side Belfast Giants ahead of the 2021-22 season. Personal life. Griffin is the son of Paul Reinhart, who also played in the NHL. 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.