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

[RandomTask26]

I'll expose myself a bit here, I was a big supporter of Reinbacher getting picked at #5 until it actually happened.

When Price messed up his name, he walked down the stairs like he wanted to puke and was having an anxiety attack. He moved in a very goofy/awkward way. I didn't like his body language but I thought whatever must be nerves I've never been on that big a stage.

He was being interviewed by sportsnet as he was walking down the stairs and to the stage. I think that explains that

 

[Seb]

Another case of a prospect developing physically faster than their peers which masks their true potential.

Do you realize the absurdity of your comment considering he was playing in a men's league?

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Top pairing righties are pretty much the most valuable players in the NHL. They hardly ever hit Free Agency and if they do, they're incedibly difficult to sign.

Michkov was on Montreal's (and most other team's) no draft list. That was never gonna happen. Also, he failed to crack a KHL roster this season. Not sure you want a player that only works under certain circumstances.

Matvei Michkov, who currently has 29 pts in 34 KHL games, failed to crack a KHL roster this season?

 

[deleted user]

Also, he failed to crack a KHL roster this season. Not sure you want a player that only works under certain circumstances.

Oh, right, you mean on the team that never, ever really gives rookies meaningful anything. Riiiight. That roster.

Context matters. He was subsequently sent to a team that actually has no issues utilizing talent and has looked great.

 

[Hinterland]

Matvei Michkov, who currently has 29 pts in 34 KHL games, failed to crack a KHL roster this season?

How did you miss that?

 

[Sasha Orlov]

How did you miss that?

I misunderstood your post
Now I see you don’t know how the KHL works

 

[Hinterland]

Oh, right, you mean on the team that never, ever really gives rookies meaningful anything. Riiiight. That roster.

Context matters. He was subsequently sent to a team that actually has no issues utilizing talent and has looked great.

What is a rookie in your view? The guy played over 40 KHL games prior to this season.

Also, your statement is false. They did give Michkov 13 games two years ago. He got just one this season. Tells you everything you need to know.

Furthermore, Kirill Marchenko was a regular for them four years ago when he was the same age as Michkov now... and this season they're playing an 04 born goalie who doesn't even have a russian passport.

Also, do you think all NHL coaches are keen on playing rookies? Do you think a contending franchise is looking to ease in rookies?

Why would you draft a player you have to send elsewhere for him to perform? Drafting prospects for other franchises is kinda not the goal most teams have going into a draft.

But again. This is a stupid discussion. This is the Reinbacher thread and Montreal was never gonna draft Michkov. The guy, for good, non hockey reasons, was on most team's no draft list. Zero reasons to even bring up his name in other prospect's threads. Most teams were never gonna draft him pretty much no matter what.

 

[montreal]

 

[GTA]

Problem with these videos is you spend the majority of the time trying to figure out which one he is on the ice.

 

[deleted user]

What is a rookie in your view? The guy played over 40 KHL games prior to this season.

Also, your statement is false. They did give Michkov 13 games two years ago. He got just one this season. Tells you everything you need to know.

Furthermore, Kirill Marchenko was a regular for them four years ago when he was the same age as Michkov now... and this season they're playing an 04 born goalie who doesn't even have a russian passport.

Also, do you think all NHL coaches are keen on playing rookies? Do you think a contending franchise is looking to ease in rookies?

So they've played lesser players and bungled the Michkov situation. What exactly does that prove other than they're morons? Look, stop dancing here. Michkov has looked really good given his utilisation on Sochi. You said he failed to crack a lineup that ppl familiar with the team have long said has issues with young players. That can be true but not absolute. You've given examples against it--but given how Michkov has thrived elsewhere, it's kinda looking like a boneheaded move.

You're actively trying to disparage the player. Couldn't crack a lineup, har har, yep.. your point was TOTALLY made.

 

[Hinterland]

So they've played lesser players and bungled the Michkov situation. What exactly does that prove other than they're morons? Look, stop dancing here. Michkov has looked really good given his utilisation on Sochi. You said he failed to crack a lineup that ppl familiar with the team have long said has issues with young players. That can be true but not absolute. You've given examples against it--but given how Michkov has thrived elsewhere, it's kinda looking like a boneheaded move.

You're actively trying to disparage the player. Couldn't crack a lineup, har har, yep.. your point was TOTALLY made.

You're the one making up stuff. They played the kid two f***ing years ago. Two. And he still can't crack their roster. That's a fact. Now you're just whining and bitching about the team and telling me that they're not playing kids...which is false. I gave you concrete examples. It's like everywhere in hockey. You're good enough, you're gonna play. Of course cracking a contender is tougher than to crack other teams. If Michkov was even close to as good as many casual fans believe, he'd be able to crack any KHL roster now. The reality is that he got just one game on a team he got 13 on two years ago. If you don't understand that then that's your fault, not mine. You're, of course, free to continue to cry about a KHL contender not being into developing kids but please do it elsewhere since this is the Reinbacher thread. Thank you.

Fun fact: SKA would most certainly have 2x the points of Sochi if they played the same number of games. Did you even look at KHL standings? Which team do you think is tougher to crack? SKA is still a far cry from an NHL roster though. An NHL 1st round pick should be able to crack that team.

 

[Seb]

Problem with these videos is you spend the majority of the time trying to figure out which one he is on the ice.

RD white/blue/yellow, rarely somewhere else.

 

[Goldenhands]

He might be very good. But the problem is that Michkov looks like an offensive superstar and dynamiter who would have been the perfect complement to Slafkovsky. Montreal could have an exceptional player for a No. 5 rank. Whereas a player like Reinbacher, you easily find one every year in the draft. This year, there are plenty of others as promising as him reaching the top 10.

Only top RHD is Levshunov who is more in the Mintyukov mold than a steady all situations type of D like Reinbacher.

Michkov is stuck in Russia for the next 3 years at the very least, we dont know if he will be allowed to leave Russia at the end of his contract and you are looking at an offensive dynamo who isnt really interested in playing the game on 200 ft.

 

[LesCanadiens]

Some notes:

Totally explodes through the neutral zone @1:15. What a stride! Love to see that.

Gets walked pretty badly one-on-one @11:28. Don't like to see that. But he'll learn.

Makes an excellent defensive board play on his wrong side and then sends a beauty long pass @13:30

Overall. Looks good. Clearly one of the most skilled guys on his team when he's on the ice that seems obvious. Still needs to polish his game of course. Some bad pinches. But Hughes saying he's trying to do too much appears accurate. Looks to me like that too. Need to get him playing with better players. Laval please.

 

[Hinterland]

Some notes:

Totally explodes through the neutral zone @1:15. What a stride! Love to see that.

Gets walked pretty badly one-one-one @11:28. Don't like to see that. But he'll learn.

Makes an excellent defensive board play on his wrong side and then sends a beauty long pass @13:30

Overall. Looks good. Clearly one of the most skilled guys on his team when he's on the ice that seems obvious. Still needs to polish his game of course. Some bad pinches. But Hughes saying he's trying to do too much appears accurate. Looks to me like that too. Need to get him playing with better players. Laval please.

I mean I don't watch a lot of AHL but is Laval really less of a mess than Kloten? Roster looks pretty underwhelming and numbers say the allowed the most goals leaguewide. Not sure it matters much. Both Kloten and Laval are poor teams. I see they won four straight but Kloten recently had a similar point streak...just to lose six straight.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

I mean I don't watch a lot of AHL but is Laval really less of a mess than Kloten? Roster looks pretty underwhelming and numbers say the allowed the most goals leaguewide. Not sure it matters much. Both Kloten and Laval are poor teams.

Laval has been on fire for the last 3 weeks. Their goaltending was absolutely awful for the first 2 months of the season, which mostly explains why their goals against are terrible as they were a team with tons of rookies that could not get a save, but Dobes turned it around over the last 3 weeks and they brought in a good veteran in Kasimir Kaskisuo to replace a completely overmatched Strauss Mann.

 

[LesCanadiens]

I mean I don't watch a lot of AHL but is Laval really less of a mess than Kloten? Roster looks pretty underwhelming and numbers say the allowed the most goals leaguewide. Not sure it matters much. Both Kloten and Laval are poor teams.

I recommend watching now if you you can. The team has really taken off, especially since WiFi joined them. They've been on a tear and look to be really gelling as a unit. They are in the mix for a playoff spot right now and playing with a lot of passion.

I think Reinbacher would be coming in at a very good time. And we would have better control over his development. Kloten had him all over the place for the last few weeks. And on top of that, I think Reinbacher's game is much, much better suited to our game and rinks. He could've been sent there after camp this year IMO. He looked really good with us.

 

[Hinterland]

I recommend watching now if you you can. The team has really taken off, especially since WiFi joined them. They've been on a tear and look to be really gelling as a unit. They are in the mix for a playoff spot right now and playing with a lot of passion.

I think Reinbacher would be coming in at a very good time. And we would have better control over his development. Kloten had him all over the place for the last few weeks. And on top of that, I think Reinbacher's game is much, much better suited to our game and rinks. He could've been sent there after camp this year IMO. He looked really good with us.

Reinbacher needs to finish his school so Laval was never an option. Well, he probably would have joined Laval later this season if they made they playoffs. Not sure that's gonna happen now.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Only top RHD is Levshunov who is more in the Mintyukov mold than a steady all situations type of D like Reinbacher.

Michkov is stuck in Russia for the next 3 years at the very least, we dont know if he will be allowed to leave Russia at the end of his contract and you are looking at an offensive dynamo who isnt really interested in playing the game on 200 ft.

Parekh & Yakemchuk

I don't know where this fantasy that Mishkov risks being locked up in Russia comes from. He has a contract to respect (normal thing) after he leaves. Reinbacher will not arrive long before him in the NHL

It's still sad to select Reinbacher 5 in a draft that allowed you to have Michkov. A player like that, Montreal won't have one tomorrow. And we have to go back to Kovalev.

You can have players like Reinbacher every year in the draft without winning the lottery.

 

[BenchBrawl]

.

 

[Not The One]

It's still sad to select Reinbacher 5 in a draft that allowed you to have Michkov. A player like that, Montreal won't have one tomorrow.

Neither will the Flyers.

Maybe in the 2026-27 season but what will he look like then?

 

[jfhabs]

Top pairing righties are pretty much the most valuable players in the NHL. They hardly ever hit Free Agency and if they do, they're incedibly difficult to sign.

Michkov was on Montreal's (and most other team's) no draft list. That was never gonna happen. Also, he failed to crack a KHL roster this season. Not sure you want a player that only works under certain circumstances.

The only true #1 RHD that went UFA in recent memory is Pietrangelo.

A few were made available through trade like Seth Jones, who was considered a number 1 at the time by most.

Erik Karlsson out of Ottawa, he was mostly traded because he wasn't going to resign there.

Brent Burns, who was not yet an offensive dynamo, but that goes back to 2011.

Adam Larsson VS Taylor Hall. The Oilers sure though Larsson would be a tad better, Hall went on to have a 90+ season in Jersey. But I think this is a good example of real NHL value VS perceived value by fan of wingers VS RHD.

PK Subban VS Shea Weber swap, that one evens out.

If Michkov becomes a 30-35 goals, 70-80 pts undersized winger, heavily focused on the opposite side of the ice. Which I think is a fair prime projection in his case I think it's worth the gamble with Reinbacher. If he becomes a Kucherov 2.0, I don't see Reinbacher ceiling being that high to compete.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Neither will the Flyers.

Maybe in the 2026-27 season but what will he look like then?

Certainly in 2026-27 and will likely be the favorite to win the Calder Trophy.

Anyway, with Reinbacher, what can we hope for? A solid top 4 defender. That doesn't make you dream.

Stop fantasizing, Michkov will play in the NHL. He's said it plenty of times and nothing can stop him from doing it. I don't understand where this idea comes from. No Russian player has been barred from playing in the NHL. Well, yes... Vladislav Voynov.

Kent Hughes made a cowardly choice to defend his interests and not those of the franchise. He doesn't know if he will be in 2026. But we risk suffering a lot, especially since Montreal is sorely lacking a star.Last year, when I evaluated players at the end of the season with the NHL game scale, I had Suzuki in No. 1 at 86. Aside from Anaheim (Zegras, 86, who drafted Carlsson) and Chicago (who drafted Bedard since), every team had a better #1 player. And Montreal has been consistently well placed on the draft board for a long time.

With this group of prospects, Montreal can currently become an average team. Michkov could have helped the team take a step up.

 

[Hinterland]

Certainly in 2026-27 and will likely be the favorite to win the Calder Trophy.

Anyway, with Reinbacher, what can we hope for? A solid top 4 defender. That doesn't make you dream.

Stop fantasizing, Michkov will play in the NHL. He's said it plenty of times and nothing can stop him from doing it. I don't understand where this idea comes from. No Russian player has been barred from playing in the NHL. Well, yes... Vladislav Voynov.

Kent Hughes made a cowardly choice to defend his interests and not those of the franchise. He doesn't know if he will be in 2026. But we risk suffering a lot, especially since Montreal is sorely lacking a star.Last year, when I evaluated players at the end of the season with the NHL game scale, I had Suzuki in No. 1 at 86. Aside from Anaheim (Zegras, 86, who drafted Carlsson) and Chicago (who drafted Bedard since), every team had a better #1 player. And Montreal has been consistently well placed on the draft board for a long time.

With this group of prospects, Montreal can currently become an average team. Michkov could have helped the team take a step up.

Could you stop spamming about other prospects in the Reinbacher thread? Thank you.

And if you really can't help yourself and really feel a strong need to do so, at least talk about prospects who actually would have been realistic alternatives, not the ones who were on most team's no draft lists and can't crack a KHL lineup in three years. We can talk again once Michkov actually manages to stick with SKA for a full season. Until then there's really nothing to talk about. Any half decent prospect can crack friggen Sochi's lineup.

 

[Goldenhands]

Parekh & Yakemchuk

I don't know where this fantasy that Mishkov risks being locked up in Russia comes from. He has a contract to respect (normal thing) after he leaves. Reinbacher will not arrive long before him in the NHL

It's still sad to select Reinbacher 5 in a draft that allowed you to have Michkov. A player like that, Montreal won't have one tomorrow. And we have to go back to Kovalev.

You can have players like Reinbacher every year in the draft without winning the lottery.

https://x.com/HockeyNewsHub/status/1739299681509793867?s=20

Yeah Perekh and Yakemchuk, you are forgetting Adam Jiricek as well...