David Reinbacher may be on the verge of becoming the unexpected answer the Canadiens have been waiting for.
The Austrian defenseman could push for a full-time role in Montreal as soon as September, and this next training camp looks like a pivotal moment in his career. For a player who has spent a long stretch under the microscope, the opportunity is right there.
Reinbacher has been one of the organization’s most debated young players for a while now. Since the Canadiens took him fifth overall in the 2023 draft, plenty of attention has gone elsewhere while he has continued his work in the background.
That doesn’t mean the questions have disappeared. It just means his next move matters even more.
Last season with the Laval Rocket, he made real progress. He got into more than 60 games across the regular season and the playoffs, and that kind of workload brought him closer to the NHL picture. His development has been noticed, and the timing for a possible breakthrough could not be much better.
Montreal still needs help stabilizing the right side of its blue line, and Reinbacher fits the bill. He’s a big right-shot defenseman who can handle his own end and pair well with a more attack-minded partner such as Lane Hutson. That combination of size, reliability and fit makes him a natural candidate to fill a need from inside the organization.
There’s also the practical side. If Reinbacher wins the job, Kent Hughes solves a major roster issue without moving prospects, draft picks or much cap space. After three years of waiting, this could be the moment he reminds everyone why Montreal drafted him so high.
A strong camp would change the conversation quickly. It could put him on the roster and alter the way people view his development going forward.
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