Latest news with #Reinbacher
Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Cowan: Canadiens bank on healthy David Reinbacher to blossom into NHLer
At first, the hit didn't look like anything serious. 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.'
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Cowan: Canadiens bank on healthy David Reinbacher to blossom into NHLer
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. '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.' 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.
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Cowan: Canadiens bank on healthy David Reinbacher to blossom into NHLer
At first, the hit didn't look like anything serious. 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. 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. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. '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.' 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. 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. 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. '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.' On Thursday, I asked Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent how close Reinbacher is to making the next step to the NHL. Vincent said it was a 'very dangerous' question to try to answer, adding he had many conversations about young players taking that next step with Paul Maurice when he was head coach of the Winnipeg Jets and Vincent was one of his assistants. Maurice is looking to win his second straight Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. 'It's so unpredictable,' Vincent said. 'Some guys will show up next year at (training) camp and we're going to be looking at them and be very impressed. And some guys, we're going to say: 'Well, it's not going as fast as we thought it was going.' So I don't know how to answer that question. What I know is (Reinbacher's) a young man with a great mindset and a great computer that reads the game really well. His hockey sense is really good. His feet, the mechanics of his feet, the way he skates is really good. Agility for a big guy like him still getting used to his body, really good. Coachable, great teammate. 'A little bit more grit than I expected on the ice … or facing a team that forechecks hard,' Vincent added. 'I didn't see him refusing hits to make plays … that's a big indicator for me, for a defenceman, anyways. Physically, he's still a very young man and he needs to grow into a bigger person and a stronger, faster body so we can see how good his brain is once he's strong.' What has impressed me most about Reinbacher since the Canadiens drafted him is his maturity, which has helped him get through the last two years. 'It was two good years to learn, grow as a human, grow as a player,' he said. 'Experience some hard days, experience some better days. I think that's what it's all about as a young human. You just want to grow and get to know all those areas — if they're darker or a little bit brighter. You never know what's tomorrow, right? 'So I learned a lot and I'm really looking forward to the summer now and for the camp,' he added. 'I want to put in everything I can and just come back as the player I am and be even better than I was at the draft and being better every day. Just showing that I can play and show myself from the best side and try to get into the lineup and grab a spot up there.' And hopefully stay healthy.
Montreal Gazette
4 days ago
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Cowan: Canadiens bank on healthy David Reinbacher to blossom into NHLer
Montreal Canadiens By At first, the hit didn't look like anything serious. 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. 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. '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.' 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. 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. 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. '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.' On Thursday, I asked Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent how close Reinbacher is to making the next step to the NHL. Vincent said it was a 'very dangerous' question to try to answer, adding he had many conversations about young players taking that next step with Paul Maurice when he was head coach of the Winnipeg Jets and Vincent was one of his assistants. Maurice is looking to win his second straight Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. 'It's so unpredictable,' Vincent said. 'Some guys will show up next year at (training) camp and we're going to be looking at them and be very impressed. And some guys, we're going to say: 'Well, it's not going as fast as we thought it was going.' So I don't know how to answer that question. What I know is (Reinbacher's) a young man with a great mindset and a great computer that reads the game really well. His hockey sense is really good. His feet, the mechanics of his feet, the way he skates is really good. Agility for a big guy like him still getting used to his body, really good. Coachable, great teammate. 'A little bit more grit than I expected on the ice … or facing a team that forechecks hard,' Vincent added. 'I didn't see him refusing hits to make plays … that's a big indicator for me, for a defenceman, anyways. Physically, he's still a very young man and he needs to grow into a bigger person and a stronger, faster body so we can see how good his brain is once he's strong.' What has impressed me most about Reinbacher since the Canadiens drafted him is his maturity, which has helped him get through the last two years. 'It was two good years to learn, grow as a human, grow as a player,' he said. 'Experience some hard days, experience some better days. I think that's what it's all about as a young human. You just want to grow and get to know all those areas — if they're darker or a little bit brighter. You never know what's tomorrow, right? 'So I learned a lot and I'm really looking forward to the summer now and for the camp,' he added. 'I want to put in everything I can and just come back as the player I am and be even better than I was at the draft and being better every day. Just showing that I can play and show myself from the best side and try to get into the lineup and grab a spot up there.' And hopefully stay healthy.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
David Reinbacher is Playing Again
Over the 4 Nations break, Canadiens star prospect, David Reinbacher was taken off the non-roster injured reserve and reassigned to Laval and played on Wednesday. So what should the Canadiens do with him for the rest of the season? They need to bring the prospect along slowly. When he played the other night he got nice reviews and that's great. What they need to do is regulate his minutes. He has to get into AHL shape and then if he's proving sound they can raise it. I would start the bar at 15 minutes a game for the foreseeable future. Playing defense at the AHL level is a hard job. He only has 12 games of experience and he needs to cover some fast players. I think the physical side of his game will come along the fastest but the rest will need work, especially with his timing. If he can be a plus player with around half a point-per-game average, slightly under is fine, that's good. Maybe bring him up for his Canadiens debut at the end of their season if he continues to look good. That's a good carrot to waive to any young player. Reinbacher will turn 21 next year. I expect he will be given the full training camp, preseason games, and some NHL games at the beginning of the season until they can decide how he looks after a great summer of training. Will he be NHL ready? I wouldn't count on it but giving him some games and eventually sending him down to Laval to become an All-Star is fine. Some teams want to rush a player and since he's had an injury there's no reason to do that.
