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Canadiens fans just saw exactly why Lane Hutson- David Reinbacher hype is real

Could the Montreal Canadiens pair Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher together for the playoffs?
ByBrandon Croce|
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Apr 12, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) passes against the New York Islanders in the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images
Apr 12, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) passes against the New York Islanders in the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images | Alexander Wohl-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens are entering this series with the Tampa Bay Lightning with plenty of questions, with Noah Dobson out after suffering an upper-body injury. For the Canadiens, the good news is that Alexandre Carrier looks like he is ready to return, but the difference maker for them might be the former first-round pick David Reinbacher.

Reinbacher made his NHL debut shortly after Dobson's injury and played the final two regular-season games. In both games, he looked ready for the NHL and played well with an average of 13 minutes per game, and recorded his first career assist.

Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher look to be on the same page during Montreal Canadiens' practice

While it may be too early to pair these two together, it is something that fans should be excited to see in the future. During practice on Thursday, it is clear how well Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher work together during a drill in the clip below (at the 11-second mark).

The way the two were able to move together on the ice and seemingly know where the other person was without even having to look for them shows why they might be a great pair in the future. For the Canadiens, the question is whether or not they believe Reinbacher is ready right now to contribute in the playoffs.

Carrier's return probably moves Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom out of the lineup, but if the defense struggles, it might be an option for Martin St. Louis to get either rookie on the ice in place of Arber Xhekaj.

For most of the season, Hutson played alongside Noah Dobson but the defense as a whole got better towards the end of the season after splitting them up. Both are great together, but the defense is better when they are on separate pairs.

When looking ahead, Hutson and Reinbacher could be a great fit next to each other, with Dobson making an impact next to Mike Matheson or Kaiden Guhle. This group was tested this season, but there is tremendous upside looking ahead to the future.

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