Rocket coaches believe David Reinbacher is knocking on the door of the NHL
Montreal Canadiens top defenceman prospect David Reinbacher will draw a lot of attention during training camp. The 2023 5th overall pick has had a tough start to his professional career in North America. He dealt with a knee injury in 2024 that kept him out of the lineup for the first five months of the season and missed a month at the start of last season with a hand injury. He recovered from the hand injury and performed well, earning a call-up for the Canadiens’ final two games when Noah Dobson went down with a thumb injury. Heading into training camp, reports are that Reinbacher has put in a lot of extra work this summer and could be in line to start the season with the Canadiens.
Reinbacher knocking on the door of the NHL
Reinbacher’s issues are less about what he does on the ice and more about whether he can stay healthy for an entire season. He has missed 67 games over the last two seasons, but when he is in the lineup, he has shown glimpses of why the Canadiens selected him with the 5th overall pick. Trying to put the injuries in the rearview mirror, Reinbacher appears to have a good chance of making the Canadiens’ opening day roster. Laval Rocket assistant coach Martin Laperriere had nothing but praise for Reinbacher and the work he has put in this summer.
“He has evolved. He has been unlucky with injuries, but in the long run, it will toughen him up and help him. He is knocking on the door of the NHL. The amount of work done over the summer will be interesting to see. I am looking forward to seeing him battle for a spot. He is evolving and learning the North American game, the way the Montreal Canadiens envisioned. It’s looking good. “
Martin Laperriere
There will always be an adjustment period when a player goes from Europe to North America. While it is still essentially the same sport, the style of play is slightly different. Reinbacher started his career in Switzerland, playing in the National League, where the rink is bigger and the game is heavily reliant on speed and skill. In North America, you have to adjust to having less space on the ice while being mindful of the added physical component, which Reinbacher learned the hard way. Reinbacher has put in extra work this offseason, specifically adding size, which should help him handle the physical demands over a full season.
Rocket’s head coach Daniel Jacob has also noticed the extra work Reinbacher has put in this offseason. “He’s done well, he played games. That was the first time in a long time, and he did well enough to get called up and see what it is to play in the NHL. More games, more mileage, more confidence. It was a big summer physically for him. I saw him briefly, and he looked bigger and stronger. It’s exciting for me to sit back and watch him perform at main camp,” said Jacob. The coaches have noticed the progress Reinbacher has made this summer. Now it is up to him to try and secure a spot in training camp.
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