The Montreal Canadiens have drafted fifth overall two drafts in a row, with their 2023 selection David Reinbacher being viewed much differently than Ivan Demidov this year.
Reinbacher has been viewed as the wrong pick and written off before ever playing a minute of North American hockey. Matvei Michkov was available and the Canadiens needed to address their goalscoring issue. But wiser hockey minds know that there are many facets to building a contender.
Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton fit the bill of wise hockey minds, and their decision to draft Reinbacher was made to build a strong defence corps. Alongside Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson and Logan Mailloux, the Canadiens have put together some solid pieces for a strong top four of the future. Hutson and Reinbacher were added by the current management group and the hopes are that they will be huge for the Habs future.
Watching David Reinbacher’s interview from yesterday, it’s easy to be impressed by his maturity, his calming presence, his self-awareness & his quiet confidence.
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) September 13, 2024
There’s no doubt that Kent Hughes & co. valued those same traits. pic.twitter.com/EmHkQtX72B
Reinbacher is the highest draft selection of all the Canadiens defenders, and his character and skill combination will soon show why.
High character will serve Reinbacher in first season with Laval
There are many peaks and valleys during a hockey season, requiring a player to be prepared for them all. Of course, professional athletes invest in their minds and bodies to stay mentally and physically sharp throughout the entire season and beyond. However, 18-19 and 20-year-olds are new to the process, so minor slip-ups and issues aren't foreign.
Reinbacher's season with EHC Kloten was well-documented and the frustration of his first season after being drafted by the Canadiens was a disaster. But he kept his head down and worked his tail off to get the most out of his ice time. With that, he was well prepared for his opportunity when he arrived in Laval to finish off the 2023-24 season.
There is so much to like about Reinbacher, and he employs the same kind of personality that Shea Weber and Carey Price did in the past. While ultra-competitive, he isn't loud and obnoxious - not that showing personality is a bad thing. But he is very sure of himself and his passion for the game shines through, each time he talks.