MONTREAL — David Reinbacher, the Montreal Canadiens' fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, is on the verge of a personal milestone this weekend as he prepares to suit up for his 12th regular-season game with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League. The 21-year-old Austrian defenceman, standing at an imposing 6-foot-3 and weighing 200 pounds, has faced a series of injuries that have limited his professional career to just 44 games, including playoffs, despite being nearly two years into his pro journey. On Sunday, Reinbacher is expected to take the ice against the Hershey Bears, marking a significant step in his recovery and development.
Reinbacher's path has been marked by setbacks that would test any young athlete. Last season, during an exhibition game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he suffered a serious knee injury that required surgery, sidelining him until February. This year, history seemed to repeat itself in another pre-season matchup with the Maple Leafs, where he broke his hand while blocking a shot. That injury forced him to miss four weeks, delaying his AHL debut until October 31 against the Rochester Americans.
Despite these challenges, Reinbacher has shown resilience and productivity upon his return. Coming off a strong weekend against the Belleville Senators, he recorded a goal and an assist in Friday's game and followed it up with two goals in Laval's decisive 7-2 victory on Saturday. In 10 games this season, the right-handed shot has tallied three goals and seven points, numbers that have caught the attention of his coaches and scouts.
"One or two times you think, 'Why is it me?' " Reinbacher reflected this week after practice. "But it’s not in your hands. It’s God’s decision. One door closes and another opens up. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Make the best of it. Stand up again."
The young defenceman views these experiences not as derailments but as opportunities for growth. "I wouldn’t call these setbacks," he added. "For sure, I missed some time, but you learn on the other side. You grow as a human. You grow from a kid to a man. That was important, for sure, for my development."
Laval's upcoming schedule adds to the importance of Reinbacher's form. The Rocket embark on a two-game road trip starting Saturday night against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and the team is currently without fellow defenceman Adam Engstrom, who was recently promoted to the Canadiens and made his NHL debut on Wednesday against the Utah Hockey Club. Reinbacher has been paired with William Trudeau in recent games, providing stability on the blue line as the team navigates these absences.
As a right-handed shooting defenceman, Reinbacher represents a valuable asset for the Canadiens, who are notably stacked with left-shooting blueliners. He acknowledges the long-term vision for his career, emphasizing patience over haste. "I see the big picture," Reinbacher said. "It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. You have a long career, hopefully. I don’t want to go up there and get sent down again. I want to go up and stay for a long, long time. Go up there and have success with the team."
Reinbacher's journey to North America began after being selected fifth overall by Montreal in 2023. Prior to his pro career, he played in the Swiss League, where he suffered another knee injury at the start of the 2023-24 season. Although his knee has fully recovered, he admitted during the Canadiens' training camp last September that the injury lingered in his mind. Now, with consistent play in the AHL, he is focused on building experience. "For sure, it’s still a long way to go," he noted. "I think we’re getting there slowly; time will tell. If I continue to be consistent on the ice and have good performances — especially in the defensive zone — make plays and bring my A game, I think it will come sooner rather than later. I don’t want to look too far into the future. That’s not good for yourself."
Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent has been impressed with Reinbacher's maturity and approach, pushing back against any notion that the prospect is injury-prone. "The first one, he’s making a play and gets hit," Vincent explained. "He’s willing to take hits to make plays. It was in the neutral zone. The other one, he’s blocking a shot. That’s what we ask from all of our players. He just got unlucky. He’s pretty tough on himself and his body. It just happened that way. I hope in five years, we won’t even remember this."
Vincent highlighted Reinbacher's offensive capabilities, which were a key factor in his high draft selection, but stressed the need for a complete two-way game. The coach described the player as intelligent and coachable, capable of handling the pressures of expectations. "He gets the expectations," Vincent said. "We have to leave that on the side and look where we’re at today, considering what he has been through. If we want to judge somebody, we might as well have all the facts in front of us so we can have a real clean, honest evaluation. He has been injured for almost a full year. And he’s a young player adapting to North America."
The recent weekend performance underscores Reinbacher's potential. His two goals in the Saturday win against Belleville demonstrated his ability to contribute offensively while adapting to the physical demands of the AHL. Vincent pointed to this as evidence of progress. "The last game, he scored two goals. That’s pretty good, in my opinion. And he’s getting better. Let’s give him games before we can truly evaluate him. I don’t want to put a timetable on it."
Reinbacher's development comes at a pivotal time for the Canadiens organization, which is rebuilding its roster with an eye toward contention. The team has invested heavily in young talent, and prospects like Reinbacher are seen as cornerstones for the future blue line. His ability to create offense was a primary reason for his draft position, but now the focus is on defensive reliability and overall consistency.
With Engstrom's promotion creating an opportunity, Reinbacher could see increased ice time this weekend and beyond. The road trip to Lehigh Valley on Saturday and Hershey on Sunday will test his mettle against strong opponents in the competitive Atlantic Division of the AHL. Laval, currently adjusting to lineup changes, will lean on its young defencemen to maintain defensive structure.
Looking ahead, Reinbacher's trajectory points toward an eventual NHL call-up, though he remains grounded in the present. His comments reflect a mindset shaped by adversity, one that prioritizes steady improvement over rushed results. As he accumulates games and refines his skills, the Canadiens' prospect pipeline gains another promising story of perseverance.
For now, Reinbacher is content to focus on the task at hand, stacking AHL games and contributing to Laval's success. His journey from injury-plagued starts to productive outings illustrates the challenges and rewards of professional hockey development. As the weekend approaches, all eyes in Montreal will be on the young Austrian as he continues to find his footing.
— Robert Taylor, The Appleton Times