Training camp is only just getting started in Montreal, but David Reinbacher already seems to understand the lane he has to carve out.
The former fifth overall pick is one of the names to watch as the Canadiens sort through a crowded defensive picture, but the path to a roster spot is far from simple. Every defenceman who played regular minutes for Montreal last season is back, so Reinbacher will have to push someone aside to stick.
There may be a crack in the door, though. Kaiden Guhle is expected to miss the first couple of weeks of the season, and with reports that Arber Xhekaj could be used as a forward, a spot is open.
Reinbacher, for his part, isn’t hiding from the challenge. When asked what makes him think he’s ready for the NHL, his answer was blunt: “You’ll see this weekend.”
There’s a different feel around him this time, too. Laval Rocket head coach Daniel Jacob and assistant coach Martin Laperriere have both said he put in the work over the offseason, and Reinbacher appears to have arrived with more confidence than he’s shown since joining the organization.
His first two years were derailed by injuries, but those are in the past now, and he’s coming into camp with a little more swagger and, reportedly, seven extra pounds on his frame. That added size should help him handle contact and battle better along the boards.
What really stands out, though, is how clearly he sees his own job.
“I see myself as a shutdown defenseman, but still can play two ways. My priority is on the defensive side, killing plays and making life hard for the other guys out there,” said Reinbacher.
That kind of self-awareness matters for Montreal. The Canadiens already have plenty of offensive punch on the blue line. Lane Hutson is expected to drive the points, Noah Dobson has shown he can pile them up after a 70-point season with the New York Islanders, and Mike Matheson has already worn both hats in Montreal, going from power-play centerpiece to the club’s shutdown option after posting 62 points in the 2023-24 season.
Reinbacher doesn’t need to walk in and be that kind of scorer. What he needs is a role, and he may have found the right one.
A lower-pairing job could be his first step, with the possibility of working alongside Matheson on the penalty kill or in late-game situations. If he can prove he can kill plays and make life miserable for opposing forwards, that could be the thing that gets him on the roster.
That’s the reality for Montreal right now: they don’t need another defenceman trying to light up the stat sheet. They need balance.
They need someone who can do the dirty work and bring some bite to the defensive side. Reinbacher doesn’t have to be perfect yet, and nobody is asking him to be.
His offensive game can keep developing. For now, his value is much simpler than that - and a lot more useful to the Canadiens.
In Other News...
Canadiens Fans May Finally Get Clarity On Kirill Marchenko Buzz
The Kirill Marchenko chatter around Montreal may finally get a little less murky this week. The Columbus Blue Jackets confirmed that Marchenko is scheduled to speak to reporters on Friday, a notable step for a player whose name has been floating through trade speculation with the Canadiens among the teams watching closely.
The timing matters because the noise around Marchenko has been building from more than one direction. His agent, Dan Milstein, has already said he does not intend to extend his contract with Columbus, and the Blue Jackets coach and general manager have both signaled openness to player trades. For Canadiens fans, Friday should at least bring some clarity on where things stand, even if it does not settle the larger question of whether Montreal is truly in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Goalie Decision Kent Hughes Can't Drag Out
The Canadiens are heading into camp with a goaltending decision that cant linger too long, because there are three goalies in the mix for one backup job behind Jakub Dobes and the season opener is already looming on Sept. 29 against the Maple Leafs. For Montreal, it is not just a matter of sorting out depth. It is also about finding the cleanest way to handle a veteran presence in Samuel Montembeault, whose situation makes this a more delicate call than a typical camp battle.
Kent Hughes and the front office know the clock is working against them as they try to settle the crease before the games start to matter. Montembeault would need waivers to be sent down, and the Canadiens are operating with the expectation that another team would be ready to jump in, which is why the path forward is unlikely to be simple. However it gets resolved, this is one of those early-season roster questions that can shape the tone of the month before the puck even drops. [Read more 🡒]
Xhekajs New Deal Puts Canadiens Crowded Blue Line Back In Focus
Arber Xhekaj is back under contract with the Canadiens after signing a one-year deal, but the agreement does more than simply settle one restricted free agents status. It also puts a brighter spotlight on a blue line that already had plenty of bodies and little obvious room, a familiar roster squeeze for a team trying to sort out its best defensive mix.
Xhekaj acknowledged the delay in getting the deal done and said the club had been working through moves to free up space before finalizing things. He also left the door open to helping up front if that is what it takes to stay in the lineup, a notable option for a player whose path to regular minutes may be affected by Montreals crowded defense and the expected absence of Kaiden Guhle. [Read more 🡒]