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Montreal Canadiens: Three Players Who Will Stand Out At Rookie Tournament

By Tyler Major-Mcnicol

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: David Reinbacher speaks to the media after being selected by the Montréal Canadiens with the fifth overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: David Reinbacher speaks to the media after being selected by the Montréal Canadiens with the fifth overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) /
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Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Montreal Canadians draft pick David Reinbacher. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Montreal Canadians draft pick David Reinbacher. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

David Reinbacher

David Reinbacher, unlike many of his Canadiens colleagues, has an advantage, because he has a season of professional play on his resume. The smooth-skating, 6’2′ Austria native has an impressive package of good size, strong skating mechanics and high defensive acumen, with some offensive upside that he is just scratching the surface.

He skated a bit and played some inter-squad games, but he will have his first opportunity to show everybody his full toolkit against some of the league’s best young talent on North American ice.

Reinbacher won’t have his good buddy Lane Hutson, as he is ineligible to play due to his NCAA commitment, but don’t think for one second that he will look a step behind or out of place at all. He was selected fifth overall for a reason, and with a summer to train and prepare, he should show up in Buffalo looking a step quicker and physically stronger.

His mind will continue to be his best asset, and I think he will continue to play his poised style and show an improvement in his offensive game all-around.

He will be one of the youngest out of the 27-player group, but I fully expect him to stand out as one of the top two defensemen of the group, and potentially outshine an older, and more physically mature right-shot defender. He was the top-ranked defenseman in the 2023 NHL draft, and he will be an integral piece for a blueline that will look to compete for a Stanley Cup by 2026-27 (in the interest  of not trying to rush anything.)

With his draft pedigree will come high expectations, but he has the mental makeup and maturity to grab the opportunity by the horns and threaten to play with the big club come October.

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