David Reinbacher Explained

David Reinbacher
Birth Date:25 October 2004
Birth Place:Hohenems, Austria
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:187
Position:Defence
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:Montreal Canadiens
Prospect Team:Laval Rocket
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:EHC Kloten
Ntl Team:AUT
Draft:5th overall
Draft Year:2023
Draft Team:Montreal Canadiens
Career Start:2022

David Reinbacher (born 25 October 2004) is an Austrian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, fifth overall, by the Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, making him the highest-drafted Austrian player in NHL history along with Thomas Vanek in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.[1] [2]

Playing career

Reinbacher played as a youth in Switzerland with EHC Rheintal and EHC Bülach, before moving to EHC Kloten at the under-15 level. Appearing within Kloten junior ranks, he made his professional debut with the club in the Swiss League, the second tier of the Swiss league system, midway through the 2021–22 season. Reinbacher managed one goal and 10 assists in 27 regular season appearances.[3] He then played in 14 playoff games, which culminated in Kloten securing promotion to the National League (NL), Switzerland's top league.[4] [3]

In the 2022–23 season, Reinbacher established himself a regular on Kloten's blueline, attracting attention for doing so as an 18-year-old player, and seeing his average ice time rise from six minutes per game to over 20. He recorded three goals and 19 assists in 46 games during the regular season, and two further points in three playoff games.[4] He received the league's award for the best young player of the year.[5]

Prior to the 2022–23 season, Reinbacher had a low profile among evaluators for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, with some European evaluators identifying him as a potential second-round selection.[6] By November 2022 he was receiving attention from major North American publications, with The Hockey News naming him to their "All-Sleeper Squad" of players who should be considered for the first round.[7] By the time of the draft in June, Reinbacher was mooted as a top ten selection by many, and generally considered likely to be the first defenceman taken in the draft.[8] [9] [10] [11] At the draft, Reinbacher was selected fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens, with the team's general manager Kent Hughes describing him as "a diamond in the rough with a lot of potential."[1] This made him the highest-drafted Austrian skater in NHL history, alongside Thomas Vanek, who was also drafted fifth overall 20 years earlier.[4] The Canadiens' decision was controversial due to their passing over Matvei Michkov, considered by many to be the most talented player still available at the time, who was subsequently taken by the Philadelphia Flyers. Criticism on social media attracted sports media coverage, notably due to reported abusive messages directed at Reinbacher himself.[12] [13] [14] [15]

On 5 July 2023, the Canadiens signed Reinbacher to a three-year, entry-level contract.[16] [17] After what was generally considered a positive appearance at the Canadiens' training camp in the autumn of 2023, he was sent back to Switzerland's National League (NL) for the 2023–24 season.[18] [19]

Following a two-year NL stint, Reinbacher was assigned to the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, on 18 March 2024.[20] He made his AHL debut on 22 March 2024 in a 3-2 overtime win versus the Belleville Senators recording a goal.[21]

International play

Reinbacher represented Austria junior team at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.[22] He averaged over 26 minutes of ice time per game, and had two assists in the team's final game, which saw them relegated following two consecutive losses to Latvia junior team.[23] In May 2023, Reinbacher made his debut with Austria senior team at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. After suffering an MCL injury in Austria's second game against Sweden senior team, Reinbacher missed three games, but returned to play 23 minutes in the final group stage game against Hungary senior team and help Austria avoid relegation.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2020–21Kloten U20U20-Elit25 1 3 4 16
2021–22Kloten U20U20-Elit23 9 13 22 123 0 1 1 2
2021–22EHC KlotenSL27 1 10 11 414 0 0 0 10
2022–23EHC KlotenNL46 3 19 22 263 1 1 2 2
2023–24EHC KlotenNL35 1 10 11 18
2023–24Laval RocketAHL11 2 3 5 4
NL totals81 4 29 33 443 1 1 2 2

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2022AustriaU18 D1B21st5 0 1 1 0
2022AustriaWJC10th4 0 2 2 4
2023AustriaWJC10th5 0 2 2 0
2023AustriaWC14th4 0 1 1 2
Junior totals14 0 5 5 4
Senior totals4 0 1 1 2

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
Swiss League
Swiss League championship2022
National League
Young Player of the Year2023

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kent Hughes Grabs a Diamond in the Rough for the Canadiens . Galanopoulos . Chris . Stephens . Rick . . 29 June 2023 . 30 June 2023.
  2. Web site: Canadiens make David Reinbacher highest-drafted Austrian defenceman ever. Maher. Sarah Jean. The Athletic. 28 June 2023 . 7 March 2024.
  3. Web site: 2023 NHL Draft Player Profile: David Reinbacher . Maciag . Joe . Recruit Scouting . 16 November 2022 . 30 June 2023.
  4. Web site: Canadiens make David Reinbacher highest-drafted Austrian defenceman ever. Maher . Sarah Jean . . 28 June 2023 . 30 June 2023.
  5. News: Un honneur pour Reinbacher . An honour for Reinbacher . French . . Lefrançois . Guillaume . 4 August 2023 . 5 August 2023.
  6. Web site: Novotny . Marek . Central European Stock Watch: David Reinbacher surging up NHL Draft rankings . EP Rinkside . 6 February 2023 . 13 February 2023.
  7. Web site: NHL 2023 Draft Team of the Month: All-Sleeper Squad . Ferrari . Tony . . 20 November 2022 . 13 February 2023.
  8. Web site: Final Mock 2023 NHL Draft: Intrigue after 1st 4 picks. Kimelman. Adam. Morreale. Mike G.. NHL.com. 27 June 2023. 30 June 2023.
  9. News: Jason Bukala's 2023 NHL Mock Draft: What happens after Bedard goes first?. Bukala. Jason. Sportsnet.ca. 26 June 2023. 30 June 2023.
  10. Web site: NHL Mock Draft 2023: Connor Bedard goes to Blackhawks; Matvei Michkov falls out of top 5 in final projections . Murphy . Bryan . . 28 June 2023 . 20 June 2023.
  11. News: 2023 NHL mock draft: Projections for every first-round pick . Weekes. Kevin. Sportsnet.ca. 27 June 2023. 30 June 2023.
  12. Web site: The Montreal Canadiens are betting big on David Reinbacher. Ellis. Steven. Daily Faceoff. 28 June 2023 . 30 June 2023.
  13. News: Canadiens' Hughes confident Reinbacher will make his name unforgettable in Montreal. Engels. Eric. Sportsnet.ca. 29 June 2023. 30 June 2023.
  14. Web site: Canadiens fans' reaction to controversial draft pick may affect development plans . Ashbourne. Nick. Yahoo! Sports. 30 June 2023 . 30 June 2023.
  15. Web site: Habs fans not thrilled that the CH picked Reinbacher . Kelly . Brendan . . 30 June 2023 . 29 June 2023.
  16. Web site: Three-year, entry-level contract for David Reinbacher . Montreal Canadiens . NHL.com . 5 November 2023 . 5 July 2023.
  17. News: Canadiens sign David Reinbacher to three-year, entry-level deal. Sportsnet.ca. 5 July 2023. 5 July 2023.
  18. Web site: David Reinbacher kehrt zum EHC Kloten zurück . EHC Kloten . 5 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231105204148/https://ehc-kloten.ch/news/news/david-reinbacher-kehrt-zum-ehc-kloten-zurueck . 5 November 2023 . de-CH . 1 October 2023.
  19. News: Reinbacher returns to Swiss league, leaves Canadiens impressed with cerebral play. Engels. Eric. Sportsnet.ca. 1 October 2023. 2 October 2023.
  20. CanadiensMTL. 1769743500151578853. March 18, 2024. Les Canadiens ont prêté le défenseur David Reinbacher au Rocket de Laval.

    The Canadiens have assigned defenseman David Reinbacher to the Laval Rocket.

    #GoHabsGo.
  21. News: David Reinbacher Shakes off Nerves to Impress Laval Teammates. Galanopoulos. Chris. The Hockey News. 23 March 2024. 25 March 2024.
  22. Web site: Potvin . Blain . 5 Draft-Eligible Prospects for Canadiens Fans at the 2023 WJC . The Hockey Writers . 24 December 2022 . 13 February 2023.
  23. Web site: Bell . Josh . World Juniors 2023: Jiri Kulich, Ryan Ufko among prospect risers; Brad Lambert's stock falls . . 7 January 2023 . 30 June 2023.