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

[montreal]

 

[MoneyManny]

I think I would aim toward drafting the most valuable player, i.e. who projects to be the best asset for my team, so like what is their projected trade value, performance for cap hit, are they likely to sign long term to a good deal, a good teammate, fan favourite, sells tickets? Maybe that does just end up being the most talented player every time because all the other stuff is a crapshoot, but I think there is merit in that peperspective.

Yeah. All of that kind of means nothing at all unless the player develops into a NHLer though. This isn't the NFL, the guys are barely 18 years old and a large majority of prospects end up busting.

I believe a team could build a great lineup even if all they drafted were wingers, if they constantly picked BPA and it happened that way, compared to a team that only picks RHD and 2 way centers, but the players never become anything.

 

[montreal]

 

[montreal]

 

[wetcoast]

I really like Reinbacher but with Michov still on the board I think it was a bit of a reach and he really needs to develop into a Seider lite at least and I'm not entirely sure if this will happen.

Very interesting prospect to say the least.

Can't wait for the biggest reach poll next season where he and Easton Cowan will be the 2 frontrunners for different reasons but the same also given their fanbases.

 

[montreal]

I really like Reinbacher but with Michov still on the board I think it was a bit of a reach and he really needs to develop into a Seider lite at least and I'm not entirely sure if this will happen.

Very interesting prospect to say the least.

Can't wait for the biggest reach poll next season where he and Easton Cowan will be the 2 frontrunners for different reasons but the same also given their fanbases.

the problem then becomes how do you win in the playoffs with Caufield-Michkov on your top line.

I think they reached here, they saw a guy that has NHL tools, a RD and someone that could possibly fit very well with Lane Hutson. That said with Will Smith off the board, I'm not sure who they should have taken instead of Reinbacher unless you planned on trading Caufield at some point.

Or the Habs know enough about Mickhov due to their head scout's dad working for Michkov's team, that they might know more about the player and why it was best to pass on him. I had badly hoped the Sharks would have picked him so we could have had Smith.

It reminds me of the 2018 draft when we won the lottery but I so bad was hoping it would have been the 2nd OA instead as I felt that was the easy choice for MB/Timmins and hope they wouldn't pass on such a good player just to get a center but then again I was never a big MB fan.

 

[wetcoast]

the problem then becomes how do you win in the playoffs with Caufield-Michkov on your top line.

I get that but I also wonder if anyone had intel on Michov being tried at center this year and his skillset is just too good to pass on for me and I really like Reinbacher.

I think they reached here, they saw a guy that has NHL tools, a RD and someone that could possibly fit very well with Lane Hutson. That said with Will Smith off the board, I'm not sure who they should have taken instead of Reinbacher unless you planned on trading Caufield at some point.

I think Caufield would have been the odd man out if they had drafted Michov and looked no further than the black Hawks trading Alex DeBrincat and getting back a high 1st rounder and a decent 2nd rounder.

Or the Habs know enough about Mickhov due to their head scout's dad working for Michkov's team, that they might know more about the player and why it was best to pass on him. I had badly hoped the Sharks would have picked him so we could have had Smith.

Maybe it is early.

It reminds me of the 2018 draft when we won the lottery but I so bad was hoping it would have been the 2nd OA instead as I felt that was the easy choice for MB/Timmins and hope they wouldn't pass on such a good player just to get a center but then again I was never a big MB fan.

Let's hope that he works out better than Kotkaniemi.

not that Kotkaniemi is a bad player just for 3rd overall and much like 5th overall this year and David might turn out to be a very solid #4 guy, which wouldn't be a poor result but at #5 in a very strong draft Montreal really wants him to turn out being a heavy MPG all situations #2 at worst I would think.

 

[Random Comment]

the problem then becomes how do you win in the playoffs with Caufield-Michkov on your top line.

I think they reached here, they saw a guy that has NHL tools, a RD and someone that could possibly fit very well with Lane Hutson. That said with Will Smith off the board, I'm not sure who they should have taken instead of Reinbacher unless you planned on trading Caufield at some point.

Or the Habs know enough about Mickhov due to their head scout's dad working for Michkov's team, that they might know more about the player and why it was best to pass on him. I had badly hoped the Sharks would have picked him so we could have had Smith.

It reminds me of the 2018 draft when we won the lottery but I so bad was hoping it would have been the 2nd OA instead as I felt that was the easy choice for MB/Timmins and hope they wouldn't pass on such a good player just to get a center but then again I was never a big MB fan.

Michkov is significantly better than Caufield. And Caufield is good. Would have been the better pick. That being said I’m still a fan of Reinbacher. You need guys like that to win, even if they aren’t the better player per se.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Michkov is significantly better than Caufield. And Caufield is good. Would have been the better pick. That being said I’m still a fan of Reinbacher. You need guys like that to win, even if they aren’t the better player per se.

There is nothing to support Michkov being significantly better than Caufield if at all.

There is tons of smoke around Michkov being a serious problem and Caufield is a favourite amongst his teammates. Of course Michkov might very well end up being the better player but I think it is unlikely that he is a better teammate or ever fits into the mold that Hughes is looking for. I have no doubt that Reinbacher will be at worst a strong 2nd pairing dman and considering his meteoric development he may end up being much more, his IQ is off the charts.

Reinbacher is exactly the type of player that eliminates players like Michkov in a playoff series and I believe this, combined with the character of each player is the reason why Hughes made this pick.

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

That's a solid top 5 pick in any year. 23+ minute, all-situations 40+ point defensemen that play physical, lockdown defense and skate very well are very, very hard to find. Arguably as valuable as a top line 20 minute a night 2-way center. There's a reason these kinds of players tend to get paid 8 million or more.

lmaoooooo

you haven't watched him play.

what a comedic take. so, so wrong.

 

[montreal]

Michkov is significantly better than Caufield. And Caufield is good. Would have been the better pick. That being said I’m still a fan of Reinbacher. You need guys like that to win, even if they aren’t the better player per se.

time will tell, I could see Michkov maybe being a bit better since he's a better playmaker but both have that deadly shot so I think it's really close there.

But in the end that doesn't really matter, as I'm sure a lot of GM's would be concerned with having 2 smallish wingers that aren't very good in their own end, having 2 of them on your top line would be tough.

The Habs went safer, how badly will they regret that we'll see. If Hutson and Reinbacher make up a great 2nd pairing and the Habs become contenders, then it was the right call, if Reinbacher ends up a decent 3rd pairing D then it was a mistake to take him that high.

 

[Favster]

lmaoooooo

you haven't watched him play.

what a comedic take. so, so wrong.

Uhmm... seems like a pretty good description to me. How do you see him as a player? I'm curious

 

[Goldenhands]

time will tell, I could see Michkov maybe being a bit better since he's a better playmaker but both have that deadly shot so I think it's really close there.

But in the end that doesn't really matter, as I'm sure a lot of GM's would be concerned with having 2 smallish wingers that aren't very good in their own end, having 2 of them on your top line would be tough.

The Habs went safer, how badly will they regret that we'll see. If Hutson and Reinbacher make up a great 2nd pairing and the Habs become contenders, then it was the right call, if Reinbacher ends up a decent 3rd pairing D then it was a mistake to take him that high.

They didnt draft Reinbacher 5th OV to be a 2nd pairing defenseman.

 

[nowhereman]

lmaoooooo

you haven't watched him play.

what a comedic take. so, so wrong.

"Comedic"? That's pretty much been the scouting report from everyone who's watched him. Reinbacher's not a dynamic offensive threat like a Q. Hughes or Makar but he has a high IQ with strong reads, good angles and a tough netfront presence, to go along with a powerful, efficient stride and improving acceleration that are above average for a defender with his frame. He projects as a first-pairing defender who can play heavy minutes.

I'm curious what player you thought you were watching?

 

[Fatass]

"Comedic"? That's pretty much been the scouting report from everyone who's watched him. Reinbacher's not a dynamic offensive threat like a Q. Hughes or Makar but he has a high IQ with strong reads, good angles and a tough netfront presence, to go along with a powerful, efficient stride and improving acceleration that are above average for a defender with his frame. He projects as a first-pairing defender who can play heavy minutes.

I'm curious what player you thought you were watching?

Would a good comparable be Chris Tanev? He’s kind of an ideal partner to a number one D man.

 

[Grantham]

Would a good comparable be Chris Tanev? He’s kind of an ideal partner to a number one D man.

Although they are both very good defensively, Tanev, atleast in his early years, was not great at transition into offense. He was a defensive wizard though, and like gumby could bend and twist and just find a way to stick to forwards like glue.

I think Reinbacher is already quite exceptional in transition, which would make him easily a first pairing defenseman if he continues his trajectory.

No slight on Tanev, as he's one of my favourite defensemen ever, but DR should be on a higher level because of his transition ability.

 

[montreal]

They didnt draft Reinbacher 5th OV to be a 2nd pairing defenseman.

Hughes said as much according to the Habs board

 

[SlafySZN]

Hughes said as much according to the Habs board

People didn’t understand well. How i understood he didn’t say a 2nd pairing D he said #2 D

 

[Goldenhands]

Hughes said as much according to the Habs board

He said likely a #2, they dont know if he is going to quarterback our top PP unit. They have been comparing him to Noah Dobson who has been a 50 pts defenseman last 2 years. Dobson was my pick the year we drafted KK.

 

[JianYang]

I really like Reinbacher but with Michov still on the board I think it was a bit of a reach and he really needs to develop into a Seider lite at least and I'm not entirely sure if this will happen.

Very interesting prospect to say the least.

Can't wait for the biggest reach poll next season where he and Easton Cowan will be the 2 frontrunners for different reasons but the same also given their fanbases.

I feel like reinbacher will always be linked to michkov here and I haven't seen the Habs board melt down over a pick like this since they drafted carey price (lol).

I do wonder though whether michkov pulled some leverage. Did he perhaps tell somewhat of cloudier story about his status, while giving philadelphia a clearer one?

Or was Philly going to go another way if they picked top 5 as well?

There may not be answers to these questions for several years down the road but it would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall around these discussions.

Hughes said as much according to the Habs board

I think Hughes said 2D... Which is still top pair.

 

[Fatass]

I feel like reinbacher will always be linked to michkov here and I haven't seen the Habs board melt down over a pick like this since they drafted carey price (lol).

I do wonder though whether michkov pulled some leverage. Did he perhaps tell somewhat of cloudier story about his status, while giving philadelphia a clearer one?

Or was Philly going to go another way if they picked top 5 as well?

There may not be answers to these questions for several years down the road but it would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall around these discussions.



I think Hughes said 2D... Which is still top pair.

Maybe by 2D Hughes meant a guy who could play top pair in support of a true 1D or could anchor the second pairing?

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

lmaoooooo

you haven't watched him play.

what a comedic take. so, so wrong.

Re-read this thread. I try and watch about 10 or so games for each prospect that I hope are within my favorite team's range every draft. Reinbacher I watched a lot more than that because he is really, really good. And very deserving of a 5th overall selection.

 

[majormajor]

Maybe by 2D Hughes meant a guy who could play top pair in support of a true 1D or could anchor the second pairing?

2D is not second pairing. I think Hughes meant a guy who does everything but not necessarily picks up the big points on the PP. That's the reasonable scouting report on Reinbacher anyways.

I think Habs FO is super bullish on Reinbacher (as most teams would be when drafting a guy that high). They just don't want to talk him up too much and no one really knows if he's going to be a top PP QB.

 

[montreal]

 

[Hinterland]

2D is not second pairing. I think Hughes meant a guy who does everything but not necessarily picks up the big points on the PP. That's the reasonable scouting report on Reinbacher anyways.

I think Habs FO is super bullish on Reinbacher (as most teams would be when drafting a guy that high). They just don't want to talk him up too much and no one really knows if he's going to be a top PP QB.

He could I suppose but Reinbacher really excels at transition. He's already amazing at it and I expect him to become one of the best if not the best defenseman when it comes to turning defense into offense. Doesn't mean he can't be effective playing special teams but primarily you want the guy on the ice at even strength. Also, if you have Lane Hutson you probably don't need Reinbacher to run your top PP unit.