Reinbacher hoping to battle Slafkovsky at Olympic qualifiers

Montreal Canadiens training camp is still a little ways away, but there are other reasons for excitement before then.

David Reinbacher has his sights set on making the Canadiens roster out of camp in late September. But with the 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, the qualifiers will take place soon. Team Austria is set to play against Slovakia on August 29th.

There is no guarantee that Juraj Slafkovsky will play there, but if he does, it could be a good chance to see how Reinbacher fares against his future teammate. There have been many projections and question marks about Reinbacher's potential, but at the end of the day, nothing will be known until he plays. However, watching two of the Canadiens' brightest top prospects playing head-to-head could be a good way to get the competitive juice flowing.

Reinbacher joked about chirping back and forth with Slafkovsky, which of course will be all in good fun. But it would be a must-watch for Habs prospect followers.

Reinbacher and Slafkovsky in Montreal?

Slafkovsky will play in Montreal this year and odds are that he will be one of the most productive forwards. Odds are, that he will take another big step and elevate the top line to an even higher level. So, it's safe to say that Slafkovsky will be in the lineup and watching to see if the 2023 fifth overall selection will join him.

As for Reinbacher, because he has very little experience playing professionally in North America, he will likely start the year in Laval. But, with David Savard being the only lock on the right side, there could be a role available, maybe even two. I would think that Logan Mailloux may be ahead on the depth chart and Justin Barron ahead of him, but Arber Xhekaj made the team, so anything can happen.

So, while Slafkovsky may not play in the Olympic qualifiers, it won't be long before he and Reinbacher take to the ice together for the Canadiens. When they do, it will be the first viewing of the Habs first first-round selections from Kent Hughes's first two drafts. If one thing can be said, it's that the Canadiens have a promising future, that is almost among us.