Sam Reinhart ready for the NHL in 2014?

Sam Reinhart is less than a month away from being selected as a high draft pick in the first round of the 2014 NHL draft. The question beyond that time remains centered on whether or not Reinhart will need another year in junior hockey, or if he’s ready to make the leap to the pros in his first year. If you ask Reinhart, there’s only one direction for his career.

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WGR550.com reports Reinhart has been preparing for the draft and his subsequent ascension to the pro levels since the end of his junior hockey season. Says Reinhart, “The biggest thing for me I think is if I’m ready, that comes with speed and strength I think. The best thing for me this year was going to Switzerland for a few days and practicing and played an exhibition game with the pros and felt very comfortable and gained a lot of experience.”

Sam Reinhart wants to be a professional right now, and it shows in his approach to the draft. While this year’s NHL draft isn’t considered to be especially strong, it still offers players like Reinhart who have plenty of upside and ability. If you ask Sam, his role model and best comparable NHLer is one who any team would be happy to have.

"When I see a guy like Jonathan Toews, he’s one of the best players in the world. To see how he conducts himself on the ice, I certainly try to learn from him and I watch him very closely."

That’s pretty good company for a center who hopes to some day lead one of the troubled franchises sitting in the top five of the draft. If Reinhart can do that, then the Toews comparisons — and his aspirations — will have been well founded.