Reinhart wants to make NHL next season
/Sam Reinhart of the WHL's Kootenay Ice is projected as one of the top prospects in this summer's NHL Entry Draft and he spoke with 1040 Radio in Vancouver Tuesday night.
On his schedule going forward:
"It's going to be a grueling couple of months, there's no question about that. The plan is right now to take a week and a bit off, get back into it next week probably, start preparing for the Combine and not just the Combine, but ultimately next September when, you know, I'm trying to make an NHL team. So it's going to be a busy one..."
On who he idolized or formulated his game around growing up:
"I don't know if there was one game that I formulated my game around. There was definitely guys I watched and looked at. I was a Calgary fan growing up. Always watched Iginla, was a fan of him. When Crosby broke into the league, it's kind of hard not to follow him as a Canadian kid, you know, still kind of rooting for him when you watch him play.
"Modeling my game after more so now would be a guy like Jonathan Toews, obviously one of the best players in the league. He does all the little things tremendously and I guess I watch him a lot because of all the little plays he makes on the puck."
On where his hockey sense comes from:
"I'm not sure. You know, I think a lot of the game I would have learned from my dad. That goes back to being in Vancouver some rides home after the game are maybe an hour long... just talking to him about the little things that happen in the game. Things we could have done better, things we did well. Never, ever yelled or screamed at any of us, but definitely gave us reminders and still does give us criticism here or there."
On if he cares about going No. 1 overall:
"Obviously it would be exciting... who doesn't want to go first overall at the end of the day, but my focus is going to a team that wants me and I'll be thrilled to go anywhere at this point right now. The draft is just one day and my focus is primarily on training camp in September and making an NHL team as soon as next year and doing everything I can to help that team."
On where he has to improve to get to the NHL level:
"You know, I have been trying and focusing on improving a lot of things over the course of the year to make that jump as soon as next year and it starts with strength and quickness. Those are the two biggest things and just overall power and it starts both on and off the ice. A big summer is definitely needed to be had."
Source: Team 1040 Vancouver