Cowan: Canadiens bank on healthy David Reinbacher to blossom into NHLer
Article content
During a pre-season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on Sept. 28, Canadiens defenceman David Reinbacher dumped the puck into the offensive zone after carrying it over the red line and was hit by Marshall Rifai, a Beaconsfield native. Reinbacher fell backward into the boards and injured his left knee badly enough to require surgery.
Article content
Article content
Reinbacher, the No. 5 overall pick at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, didn't play again until late February with the AHL's Laval Rocket.
Article content
'The guy came and I tried to protect myself,' Reinbacher said Thursday about the hit from Rifai when Rocket players met with the media for the last time this season after getting swept by the Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Conference final. 'I kind of hooked in the boards with my heel and I fell down. I heard a click right away in my knee. I stood up and tried to finish the shift, but I couldn't put weight on (it). I jumped over the boards and I knew, OK, it's over.'
Article content
Life has not been easy for the 20-year-old Austrian since the Canadiens drafted him. Many Canadiens fans were upset the team didn't draft forward Matvei Michkov instead and expressed their anger on social media. Michkov posted 26-37-63 totals in 80 games this season as a rookie with the Philadelphia Flyers, who took him with the No. 7 overall pick at the 2023 draft.
Article content
Article content
Reinbacher struggled during the 2023-24 season with Kloten HC in the Swiss National League, posting 1-10-11 totals in 35 games to go along with a minus-15 rating. He also missed time with knee and hand injuries. This season, Reinbacher was limited to 10 regular-season games with the Rocket, posting 2-3-5 totals and a plus-5. In 13 playoff games, he had 2-4-6 totals and a minus-2 rating.
Article content
While it's still too early to say the Canadiens made a mistake drafting Reinbacher — who brings added value as a right-hand shot on the blue line — things aren't looking good at this point. Reinbacher, 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, said his knee is 90-95 per cent healed.
Article content
Article content
'There's a little swelling still in there, which is bothering me a bit,' he said. 'But I think that's part of the process. It wasn't an easy surgery. … With some rest now and with the doctors and physios and everything, from now on I think we can set up a good plan and get the swelling back (down) and just have a normal knee again.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Minnesota takes on New York, looks for 5th straight road win
Minnesota Lynx (28-5, 17-2 Western Conference) at New York Liberty (21-13, 11-3 Eastern Conference) New York; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lynx -1; over/under is 167 BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota Lynx will try to keep its four-game road win streak alive when the Lynx take on New York Liberty. The Liberty have gone 13-4 at home. New York is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 35.5 points per game in the paint led by Breanna Stewart averaging 10.8. The Lynx are 11-4 on the road. Minnesota leads the Western Conference scoring 86.9 points per game while shooting 47.0%. New York scores 86.5 points, 10.7 more per game than the 75.8 Minnesota gives up. Minnesota scores 5.3 more points per game (86.9) than New York gives up (81.6). The teams square off for the fourth time this season. In the last meeting on Aug. 16 the Lynx won 86-80 led by 26 points from Courtney Williams, while Jonquel Jones scored 17 points for the Liberty. TOP PERFORMERS: Sabrina Ionescu is averaging 19.2 points and 5.3 assists for the Liberty. Jones is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games. Williams is scoring 14.2 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Lynx. Kayla McBride is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Liberty: 4-6, averaging 83.0 points, 32.4 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.0 points per game. Lynx: 9-1, averaging 91.6 points, 35.2 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.7 points. INJURIES: Liberty: Breanna Stewart: out (leg), Nyara Sabally: out (knee). Lynx: Napheesa Collier: out (ankle). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Atlanta visits Las Vegas after Wilson's 34-point outing
Atlanta Dream (22-12, 11-6 Eastern Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (21-14, 13-8 Western Conference) Las Vegas; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Las Vegas Aces hosts the Atlanta Dream after A'ja Wilson scored 34 points in the Las Vegas Aces' 106-87 victory over the Dallas Wings. The Aces are 12-5 on their home court. Las Vegas ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 25.3 defensive rebounds per game led by Wilson averaging 7.7. The Dream are 12-7 on the road. Atlanta averages 83.9 points and has outscored opponents by 6.3 points per game. Las Vegas averages 82.9 points, 5.3 more per game than the 77.6 Atlanta gives up. Atlanta averages 83.9 points per game, 1.0 more than the 82.9 Las Vegas allows. The teams play for the second time this season. The Aces won the last matchup 87-72 on July 23, with Wilson scoring 24 points in the win. TOP PERFORMERS: Wilson is scoring 22.6 points per game and averaging 9.9 rebounds for the Aces. Jackie Young is averaging 16.9 points and 4.8 rebounds over the last 10 games. Brionna Jones is averaging 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Dream. Allisha Gray is averaging 17.6 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Aces: 9-1, averaging 89.1 points, 35.6 rebounds, 22.0 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 83.3 points per game. Dream: 8-2, averaging 84.9 points, 34.8 rebounds, 21.8 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.2 points. INJURIES: Aces: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus: out (personal). Dream: Jordin Canada: out (hamstring). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Canada News.Net
2 days ago
- Canada News.Net
Late goals lift Orlando past KC after long delay
(Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images) Late goals from substitutes Ramiro Enrique and Nicolas Rodriguez gave Orlando City SC a 3-1 win over visiting Sporting Kansas City on Saturday in a game delayed by more than three hours because of weather. A 1-1 deadlock was broken by Enrique in the 76th minute, just five minutes after the striker entered the match. Enrique received a pass from Martin Ojeda in the box, then created space amidst three Kansas City players before his left-footed shot found the back of the net. Enrique's eighth goal of the season was quickly followed by the first MLS goal of Rodriguez's career. Rodriguez's 83rd-minute tally came six minutes after the 21-year-old striker took the field. The Lions (13-6-8, 47 points) are 6-0-1 in their last seven matches in all competitions, including a four-match winning streak in regular-season action. Tyrese Spicer also scored for Orlando City, who moved up to a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference with Saturday's win. Ojeda earned his 14th assist of the season on Enrique's goal. Ojeda has at least one goal or assist in each of his last 12 regular-season matches, tying him for the second-longest goal contribution streak in MLS history. Dejan Joveljic had the only goal for Sporting Kansas City (6-14-6, 24 points), who are 0-4-1 in their last five matches. The winless drought has dropped SKC eight points under the Western Conference playoff line. Orlando City came out firing after the long wait with Spicer's one-touch goal in the second minute. Saturday marked Spicer's first start and second overall match with the Lions since being acquired from Toronto FC in a trade on Aug. 1. After the early concession, Kansas City responded with about 25 minutes of sustained attack. Mason Toye was the driver of the offense, including a near-miss in the 20th minute and a hard shot that required a Pedro Gallese save in the 23rd. Toye's efforts paid off with the equalizer in the 25th minute, as the forward maneuvered around Gallese and fired the ball towards the open net. Just before the ball crossed the line, Joveljic tapped it over for something of a vulture goal, and the striker's team-leading 14th tally of the season.
