Montreal Canadiens: David Reinbacher Returns, Faces Vinzenz Rohrer

The Montreal Canadiens had the luxury of watching two of their prospects facing one another, during a game between EHC Kloten and The Zurich Lions in NL regular season play.

This matchup features Canadiens 2022 third-round selection Vinzenz Roher of the Lions facing 2023 fifth overall selection David Reinbacher of Kloten. Reinbacher returned to the lineup after suffering an upper-body injury in just his third game of the season. 

Here’s a view of the injury that he sustained, the initial timeline for his return was 1-3 weeks.

Reinbacher VS. Rohrer

The two Austrians have apparently gotten together before their matchup. With this post as proof, it seems the two Habs prospects have a bit of a friendship. This should be good for the pair during international play, perhaps it will translate to on-ice chemistry. If you click translate, it will from German to English for context.

Reinbacher looked to already be showing the positive effect he has on the team, really stabilizing the backend. His mobility and intelligence fueled a strong start for the 6’3″ defender. He had a great chance in the first frame, off a solid shot, it’s great to see his willingness to shoot the puck.

He played a professional game and logged big minutes, which were a large reason why his team won 4-2. Despite the fact that he didn’t score any points, he was a positive presence and ended the game as a +1. His 21:31 ice time was second-best on the team, it seems apparent that giving him another season in Switzerland was a wise decision.

It was a great game for Reinbacher to build off of, but certainly, it was promising how positively he affected the game. The decision to send him back to Switzerland was a wise one, and the growth from minutes on both special teams units will be tremendous for the young Austrian. When he arrives in North America next season, I think it will be tough to keep him off the NHL roster.

Rohrer on the other hand didn’t record any points, but he had a solid game for a first-year pro. The shift from the Ontario Hockey League to playing professionally should prove important for Rohrer who is on the smaller side. Playing against men should allow him to adjust and figure out how to play against bigger and stronger opponents every night.

Final Thoughts

Both players have been given ample time to develop, and gameplans to improve certain areas of their games, and work on weaknesses. The development approach is very refreshing, and while it’s only early in the Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton era, these decisions should prove to be very important ones.

Rohrer and Reinbacher are just a few of the players who will look for their place on the Canadiens in the coming years. There are plenty in Laval, and throughout the CHL into the college ranks. The scouting team has been criticized about some picks, and that comes with the territory. But they have found some great pieces for the Canadiens.

A little patience will prove important from the minor leagues, to Laval and even guys finding their way in the NHL. A Stanley Cup contender isn’t built in two or three seasons, and the development process will have hiccups and mistakes. But the adversity will aid in each players development path, on route to their NHL dream.

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