The Belfast Giants have landed quite a free agent, signing Griffin Reinhart for the upcoming season. The team has also signed J.J. Piccinich, making it quite the day for the EIHL team.
Reinhart, 27, was the fourth overall pick in 2012, selected by the New York Islanders just ahead of Morgan Rielly. While his professional career certainly didn’t go as planned, he still played 37 games at the NHL level and more than 300 in the AHL. The last two years have seen him lace up his skates in China with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL and then the Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL.
It’s quite the get for Belfast, who are actually the reigning league champions, though that came back in 2019. The last two seasons haven’t been played in full, with a four-team “Elite Series” taking place earlier this year instead.
Piccinich, 25, is also an NHL draft pick, selected in the fourth round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014. He spent last season with the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, scoring 29 points in 65 games.
Islanders fans thank you for bringing us Matt barzal and Anthony beauvillier
Why did Reinhardt miss so badly versus his draft position? Was it injuries or was he missing a critical element like speed and the league changed and he was unable to adapt? Or was he simply not that talented to begin with?
His foot speed has been considered poor his entire career.
Peter Chiarelli expected him to be good and that jinxed him.
Thanks. That makes a lot of sense to me. The kings won with a heavy lineup. Then the game shifted towards speed and skill and they looked hopeless.
So totally understandable that this could happen as it was around that time when the shift was just barely beginning.
Didn’t Reinhart tell the Roosters last week he was leaving to follow thru with his academics instead?
Man, Chia was terrible. Two high picks for Griffin. Brutal.