<p>Sam Reinhart knew the question was coming but still cracked a smile ear-to-ear. The ink was barely dry on William Nylander’s new $92 million deal, which was signed while the Florida Panthers were in Vail enjoying a rare day off after a game in Denver. Did the pending free agent Reinhart hear about the new mega contract?</p>



<p>“I’m a fan of the game,” Reinhart said on latest episode of Frankly Speaking. “It’s tough to not keep track of it.”</p>



<p>How will Nylander’s deal help set the market for the hottest scorer in hockey?</p>



<p>Reinhart, 28, is used to notching 30 goals – just not by January. With 29 goals, he is two back of Auston Matthews for the league lead. He is also on track for the second-best assist total of his career. Reinhart leads the league in power play goals (14) and is shooting the lights out with an NBA-like 27.4 percent shooting percentage.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="155"></div>



<p>Reinhart said discussions are “ongoing” with the Panthers on an extension and things are “definitely positive.”</p>



<p>“Being in a contract year isn’t something new to me,” Reinhart said. “I’ve got no problem with contract negotiations being ongoing, it’s not taking away from my preparation or how I handle day to day. That’s kind of where I stay in my head, kind of my focus. The interest is definitely mutual and definitely positive.”</p>



<p>Reinhart said he wants to remain in Florida.</p>



<p>“That’s the goal. I love it in Florida and I know they’re happy to have me,” Reinhart said. “I’m just happy with where we’re at as a team right now.”</p>



<p>Nylander was taken six picks after Reinhart in the 2014 NHL Draft. Nylander is on pace for 45 goals and 78 assists for 123 points; Reinhart is on track for 59 goals and 45 assists for 104 points. They are two different stylistic players, of course, but both players trended on a similar development timeline in terms of their ascent to NHL stardom.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="173"></div>



<p>The truth is Nylander’s new deal likely won’t have a significant impact, at least in terms of the end result salary cap hit that fans see, on a new deal for Reinhart if he re-signs with the Panthers – due to the 17 percent difference in tax. At $9.5 million per year AAV, Matthew Tkachuk will net more in pay than Nylander’s $11.5 million. In fact, a player in Toronto would need to earn $12.875 million per year to be equivalent in net pay to Tkachuk’s $9.5 million, according to the tax calculator at <em><a href="https://gavingroup.ca/nhl-tax-calculator/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gavin Hockey Wealth Specialists</a></em>.</p>



<p>Here’s my conversation with Sam Reinhart, the Florida Panthers’ newest All-Star, who was born to be a hockey player:</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://embed.acast.com/638dfe7bc48dee0011779204/659ea5fbff04980015278f36" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100px"></iframe>



<p><strong>Music Credit:</strong> Jay Robinson – You Are Mine</p>



<p>The episode was hosted by Frank Seravalli, and produced and mixed by Amil Delic.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="139"></div>



<p><strong>Audio Credit</strong>: NHL Network, TNT, TSN, WHL &amp; WQAM</p>



<p><em>Frankly Speaking</em> is presented by Betway. Please play responsibly. Ontario Only! Must be 19 years of age or older.</p>
