Wayne Gretzky weighs in on Sam Reinhart's injury and its impact on the Panthers' Stanley Cup hopes

The Florida Panthers may be one win away from reaching their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final, but NHL icon Wayne Gretzky isn’t downplaying the significance of Sam Reinhart’s absence. Despite the team’s commanding 3-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes, the loss of Reinhart to a lower-body injury looms large as Florida pushes for back-to-back championships.Sam Reinhart has been one of Florida’s most consistent performers all season, finishing with 81 points in 79 games and continuing that form with 11 points in 14 playoff appearances. But after taking a low hit from Carolina’s Sebastian Aho in Game 2, he was sidelined for Game 3—a 6-2 Florida victory.Appearing on NHL on TNT, Gretzky didn’t hold back in his praise for the injured center: "I know everybody's saying the right things, next man up, and we'll put this guy in and we're comfortable with him," said Gretzky. "But Reinhart is one of the best players in the National Hockey League. He's a two-way player. He takes face-offs and kills penalties. He's tremendous on the power play."Gretzky underscored how Reinhart's role goes far beyond just scoring goals. "It's going to be hard to replace a guy like that," he continued. "They're going to need everybody jumping in. One guy just doesn't replace Reinhart, though."In Reinhart’s absence, Jesper Boqvist stepped into the lineup and delivered an impressive performance with a goal, two assists, and a plus-4 rating. While that showing helped ease immediate concerns, Gretzky’s comments highlight the deeper value Reinhart brings—leadership, versatility, and clutch performance in all situations.Florida’s offensive depth has allowed them to weather the storm, but the team will need Reinhart back if they hope to lift the Cup once more. His ability to kill penalties, win critical face-offs, and contribute on the power play makes him essential in tight postseason matchups.Also Read: Wayne Gretzky humbly denies being the GOAT, praises today’s NHL stars and evolving gameAs the Panthers eye another Final appearance, all eyes will be on Reinhart’s recovery timeline—and whether he can rejoin the lineup when it matters most.