Two young Canadiens are showing up to camp bigger than they were a year ago, and that extra bulk could matter fast.
David Reinbacher and Florian Xhekaj both added weight over the summer, according to new measurements reported by Anthony Martineau of TVA Sports.
Reinbacher is now listed at 206 pounds, up from 199 last season based on the available data. For a defenseman whose development has already been interrupted by injuries since he was drafted in 2023, that added size could help him absorb contact a little better and stay healthier on the ice.
Florian Xhekaj made an even bigger jump. The forward is now listed at 215 pounds, after weighing 195 last year according to Hockey DB. That kind of gain makes the younger Xhekaj an even tougher physical presence, and it gives him a very different look heading into camp.
Both players are trying to carve out NHL jobs over the next few weeks. Florian appeared in five NHL games last season and picked up one assist. Reinbacher was limited to two games with the big club, but the 21-year-old has said he wants to make the NHL immediately rather than head back to Laval.
Reinbacher also has a lane to push for a spot on the blue line, especially with Kaiden Guhle out. He’ll be battling Jayden Struble, Adam Engström and the older Xhekaj brother, Arber, who just signed a one-year deal with the organization.
Camp opens Wednesday with medical testing at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, and those first sessions will give everyone a first look at whether the summer work shows up right away.
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