Sam Reinhart given 0 seconds of ice time after violating Sabres policy

Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News joined Elliotte Friedman to talk about a column he wrote about the Sabres potentially “tanking” on their coach, Dan Bylsma.

Sam Reinhart was healthy, dressed and ready to play on Tuesday yet he didn’t see one second of ice-time for the Buffalo Sabres.

The forward was benched for the entirety of a 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma told reporters following the game that the 21-year-old violated a team policy and a full-game benching was the punishment. Bylsma did not say specifically what Reinhart did or didn’t do but according to John Vogl of the Buffalo News Reinhart was late to a team meeting.

Sabres captain Brian Gionta supported his coach’s decision.

This benching occurs in the midst of there being rumours some of the players on the Sabres are unhappy with Byslma.

Elliotte Friedman, in his latest 30 Thoughts column, even referenced a recent piece written by Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News that questioned whether some players were “tanking” as a form of protest against Bylsma. Harrington was recently a guest on Prime Time Sports where he discussed this (in the video at the top).

Reinhart has 17 goals and a career high 46 points through 74 games (well, now technically 75) this season. The second-overall pick from 2014 had a three-game point streak heading into Tuesday’s game.

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