D David Reinbacher - EHC Kloten, NL (2023, 5th, MTL)

[GermanSpitfire]

It shouldn't be though, no matter what happens his league play is impressive enough to have him in talks starting at #5.

Agreed, but it gives more confirmation bias.

 

[Chainshot]

It shouldn't be though, no matter what happens his league play is impressive enough to have him in talks starting at #5.

There are people who have seen Kloten or the U20 games and then there are all the rest. Exposure begets opinion. It might even change an opinion but I don’t know if that insanity happens.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'll be making sure to catch every Austria game.

 

[Hamhuis2]

I can't remember a time when the top defensive prospect in an upcoming draft was discussed so little. Is it due to quality of player (or reflective of defensive quality of the draft) or just timing with the regular season still winding down?

I would have no problem with the Canucks taking him with a top-10 pick. I see his upside as a high-end #2 similar to an Ekholm (quality comparison, not stylistic), and a top-45 defenseman in the league overall. In short, the perfect long-term partner for Quinn Hughes.

 

[majormajor]

I can't remember a time when the top defensive prospect in an upcoming draft was discussed so little. Is it due to quality of player (or reflective of defensive quality of the draft) or just timing with the regular season still winding down?

I would have no problem with the Canucks taking him with a top-10 pick. I see his upside as a high-end #2 similar to an Ekholm (quality comparison, not stylistic), and a top-45 defenseman in the league overall. In short, the perfect long-term partner for Quinn Hughes.

It's because he's not a huge scorer and doesn't have the most impressive dangles. Early lists are mostly focused on flashy skill or big point totals. Reinbacher actually has scored a lot and has good skill, everything he needs to be a #2 guy. He should get more respect as lists get more serious closer to the draft.

Also in a way, he is heavily talked about. Go look at the team boards draft pages for Montreal, Vancouver, Arizona, Philly, etc... most fans seem to want Reinbacher even in the top ten.

You can contrast that with neutral draft lists that don't adequately take into account player types that are easier or harder to get (i.e. smaller wingers vs bigger D-men).

 

[RebuildinVan]

It's because he's not a huge scorer and doesn't have the most impressive dangles. Early lists are mostly focused on flashy skill or big point totals. Reinbacher actually has scored a lot and has good skill, everything he needs to be a #2 guy. He should get more respect as lists get more serious closer to the draft.

Also in a way, he is heavily talked about. Go look at the team boards draft pages for Montreal, Vancouver, Arizona, Philly, etc... most fans seem to want Reinbacher even in the top ten.

You can contrast that with neutral draft lists that don't adequately take into account player types that are easier or harder to get (i.e. smaller wingers vs bigger D-men).

Exactly all this. As a bigger right shot D he is going top 10 in this draft

 

[WeThreeKings]

The other thing is it's hard to watch this player and you're not able to scout anybody else, really.. where you could watch a Yager game and catch Danielson, too.

 

[canuckslover10]

I have the canucks taking him if we select around 7-9

 

[LemonSauceD]

I have the canucks taking him if we select around 7-9

Unfortunately Montreal will probably take him. And Philedelphia will probably take him if the Habs don’t even though they need offensive players.

If Reinbacher falls to 8th or 9th, I would be ecstatic

 

[WeThreeKings]

Unfortunately Montreal will probably take him. And Philedelphia will probably take him if the Habs don’t even though they need offensive players.

If Reinbacher falls to 8th or 9th, I would be ecstatic

Very light rumors, that I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in.. feel its Smith vs. Reinbacher for the Habs, and if it's neither of those 2 it's Dvorsky, Yager or Benson based on scouting levels/communication with that group.

 

[canuckslover10]

Unfortunately Montreal will probably take him. And Philedelphia will probably take him if the Habs don’t even though they need offensive players.

If Reinbacher falls to 8th or 9th, I would be ecstatic

Idk I get the sense that Montreal and Philly are going to take a forward he would definitely be a reach imo at 6 or 7.

 

[Ezpz]

Idk I get the sense that Montreal and Philly are going to take a forward he would definitely be a reach imo at 6 or 7.

The forwards Montreal want may be gone if we're picking at 6/7. The top 4 + Smith may be our only wants. I think smaller and low upside guys aren't on the radar personally for Hughes and company. Many wanted Reinbacher with Florida's pick but that's a dream at this point with their late season climb. I would guess Reinbacher is a lot higher on NHL teams lists than his consolidated ranking indicates.

Personally I think he's going to be the first D off the board and in the top 10.

 

[evolutionbaby]

I would love for Detroit to get him with their first pick then use the Isles pick for a forward

 

[rt]

The last time a defenseman didn’t go in the top six was 20 years ago, when Suter went 7th.

It seems extremely likely a defenseman will go between 5-8th and it seems Reinbacher is the the most likely defenseman to go first.

 

[wetcoast]

I would be very surprised if he is not the first dman off the board. If you value upside then you could maybe make the argument that Gulyayev should go first, but ASP isn’t even close to Reinbacher, he can’t defend. Simashev is OK, looks safe but I can’t justify using a lottery pick on him, whereas I can with Reinbacher/Gulyayev.

But then again it’s almost like scouts haven’t even heard of this guy. Many rankings that don’t even include him in the first round, and when they do include him they are totally off base (#10 on Central Scouting EU? Behind the two Finns, Stenberg, ASP?). Of course this is my own opinion and biased, but am I alone in thinking Reinbacher has been wildly underrated this whole season after what he’s been doing in NLA? Seems crazy to me what he’s done this year and nobody talks about him

I'm still hoping that he somehow gets to the Canucks...if they don't win the lottery but he seems to be rising Seider like in this draft.

 

[wetcoast]

Exactly all this. As a bigger right shot D he is going top 10 in this draft

He very well could go closer to #5 than #10 IMO.

I would love for Detroit to get him with their first pick then use the Isles pick for a forward

That was I was hoping the Canucks would do then another Dman with their 2nd pick but...........

 

[Goldenhands]

Arizona or Habs pick him 100%. Will go 5 or 6th OV.

 

[rt]

Arizona or Habs pick him 100%. Will go 5 or 6th OV.

I think that’s very likely.

 

[TheYardMachine]

I think that’s very likely.

Although habs are thin in blue chip forward prospects

 

[BKarchitect]

I can't remember a time when the top defensive prospect in an upcoming draft was discussed so little. Is it due to quality of player (or reflective of defensive quality of the draft) or just timing with the regular season still winding down?

I would have no problem with the Canucks taking him with a top-10 pick. I see his upside as a high-end #2 similar to an Ekholm (quality comparison, not stylistic), and a top-45 defenseman in the league overall. In short, the perfect long-term partner for Quinn Hughes.

To be fair, he’s got 11 pages, it’s barely April and he’s from a “smaller” hockey nation so almost all of the posts are within the last six months. He didn’t have a ridiculous (and often unwarranted) two year hype ramp up period before he was even draft eligible.

I’d say at this point Reinbacher is getting almost ALL the love in terms of blueline prospects in this draft.

So I think claiming he’s being slept on or not talked about at this point is a stretch. He’s really the ONLY blueliner anybody is talking about right now for this draft. That’s not even really hyperbole. He’s got all the hype and at this point, judging by the temperature on this forum, it will be a complete shock if he’s not taken top 10 and the first blueliner off the board. Although I don’t happen to think it’s that cut and dry yet.

 

[Captain97]

Although habs are thin in blue chip forward prospects

Yes but our forward core is also very young.

Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Slafkovsky + we likely get Dubois. That's 4 top 6 forwards right now 25 and under + Slafkovsky projects to become one.

 

[Hinterland]

It's because he's not a huge scorer and doesn't have the most impressive dangles. Early lists are mostly focused on flashy skill or big point totals. Reinbacher actually has scored a lot and has good skill, everything he needs to be a #2 guy. He should get more respect as lists get more serious closer to the draft.

Also in a way, he is heavily talked about. Go look at the team boards draft pages for Montreal, Vancouver, Arizona, Philly, etc... most fans seem to want Reinbacher even in the top ten.

You can contrast that with neutral draft lists that don't adequately take into account player types that are easier or harder to get (i.e. smaller wingers vs bigger D-men).

He scored 22 points in 46 games, so almost 0,50 per game. For a draft eligible defender playing in one of Europe's top leagues, that's a lot. As a defender, if you're really good, you can easily produce fantasy numbers playing vs random CHL or college kids but scoring points playing vs pros in Europe's top leagues is hard. How many draft eligible defenders get even close to scoring 0,5 vs Europe's top pros? I don't know but there can't be many. In fact, Rasmus Dahlin is the only one I can think of. Most top defenders drafted out of Europe didn't even play at the highest level or they played less games with very few points like Sandin-Pelikka or Seider a few years ago.

 

[Hinterland]

He may have scored just three goals which could lead you to believe that he's just a product of his teammates but firstly, by NL standards, Kloten isn't a good team and this was their 1st season back in the NL.

Secondly, Reinbacher is rocking a 12/7 assist split. He scored 12 primary assists. Leaguewide, just five defenders scored more primary assists but with the exception of T.J. Brennan they did it mostly on the PP while Reinbacher scored just 4 of his 22 points and just 3 assists on the PP.

Looking at primary assists only, Reinbacher is 4th on his team behind the import forwards only but all of those three scored 15+ PP assists.

So while we don't know for sure to what extent Reinbacher would have been able to benefit from primary PP-time with the import forwards, the fact that he scored 18 even strength points and 12 primary assists as a draft eligible defender on a bad team in one of Europe's top leagues is still mighty impressive.

Also...I know +/- isn't a very popular stat but Reinbacher was one of just three regulars on his team finishing the season with a plus. His +7 are good for 2nd on his team, 1st among defenders.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Although habs are thin in blue chip forward prospects

Also very thin on right handed defense prospects who can play defense at the NHL level.

 

[Wats]

Only silver lining of Habs winning back to 6/7th overall pick is Reinbacher is looking like easy choice