Prospect Info: David Reinbacher - Laval Rocket edition

[Paddyjack]

Was he not planned to be in the lineup last season if not for the injury and is why they traded Kovacevic

I believe it was the hope, yes, and I also think that trade happened because of it. But this injury changed the planning, I'm quite sure of it too. Acquiring a vet RD for 2 years would be the safe route, and Mailloux could also get a chance.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Was he not planned to be in the lineup last season if not for the injury and is why they traded Kovacevic

I think the reason they traded Kovacevic had more to do with Barron. He was no longer waiver exempt so they wanted to make room for him to play. Unfortunately, Barron didn't take advantage. And when the Habs' evaluation was concluded, they traded him for Carrier.

This isn't to say that if Reinbacher didn't get injured that he wouldn't start in Montreal. He could very well have and it would be between him and Barron on who can hold onto one of the RD spots. And if Reinbacher couldn't, he could be sent to Laval without waivers.

 

[Mrb1p]

First of all, I said "for the sake of argument". I'm not advocating for Ceci specifically here.

Second, when two final four coaches use a defenseman for 20 minutes a night, I tend to trust them more than Google boys and their Exes sheets. Silly of me, I know.

LMAO. Coaches can be idiots too.

 

[Saundies]

It would be even more-so imprecise if you look at the "small scoring wingers" we've had in the past decades.

Gallagher
Caufield
Tatar
Gionta
Cammaleri
Zednik
Drouin
Galchenyuk
Kovalev
Pacioretty
Cole
Ryder
Laine
Toffoli

I'm not sure if I have all of the "scoring" wingers we got since 2000, but even if you want to add a couple names, it's a laughable list in 35 seasons.

How is this laughable? All of these guys scored goals (except Drouin), it's what they do. The goal totals from this list is pretty great. Highest goals / season with the Habs:

Gallagher - 33
Caufield - 37
Tatar - 25
Gionta - 29
Cammaleri - 26
Zednik - 31
Drouin - 18
Galchenyuk - 30
Kovalev - 35
Pacioretty - 39
Cole - 35
Ryder - 30 x 2
Laine - 20 (in 52 games)
Toffoli - 28

Not terrible numbers by any means. A lot of these guys aren't small either.

 

[CzarDemidov]

We currently have one proven RHD on our roster in Carrier. I don't think signing another one blocks anyone.

For the sake of argument, let's say we sign Ceci and trade Matheson. Our pairs for next season could look something like this:

Guhle - Ceci/Carrier
Struble - Hutson
Xhekaj - Carrier/Ceci

In terms of depth chart, you have 4 LHDs (Hutson, Guhle, Struble, Xhekaj) and 4 RHDs (Ceci, Carrier, Reinbacher, Mailloux). It's hardly prudent to start the season with less than 8 NHL-capable defensemen anyway.

Nobody is blocked. Reinbacher or Mailloux has only to outperform one of Struble/Xhekaj and you put Hutson back on the left in such scenario.

I’m not sure if you’re disagreeing with my comment because I was referring to summer 2024 and the hasty Kovacevic dump.

This summer they definitely need another RHD but if Reino isn’t to be relied on we’ll need another another RHD if we don’t do Guhle-RD or Matheson-RD…. both of which are underwhelming options imo.

 

[Mrb1p]

How is this laughable? All of these guys scored goals (except Drouin), it's what they do. The goal totals from this list is pretty great. Highest goals / season with the Habs:

Gallagher - 33
Caufield - 37
Tatar - 25
Gionta - 29
Cammaleri - 26
Zednik - 31
Drouin - 18
Galchenyuk - 30
Kovalev - 35
Pacioretty - 39
Cole - 35
Ryder - 30 x 2
Laine - 20 (in 52 games)
Toffoli - 28

Not terrible numbers by any means. A lot of these guys aren't small either.

Thats since 2000 man.

 

[JianYang]

How is this laughable? All of these guys scored goals (except Drouin), it's what they do. The goal totals from this list is pretty great. Highest goals / season with the Habs:

Gallagher - 33
Caufield - 37
Tatar - 25
Gionta - 29
Cammaleri - 26
Zednik - 31
Drouin - 18
Galchenyuk - 30
Kovalev - 35
Pacioretty - 39
Cole - 35
Ryder - 30 x 2
Laine - 20 (in 52 games)
Toffoli - 28

Not terrible numbers by any means. A lot of these guys aren't small either.

Cammalleri elevated to another level in the playoffs. Too bad he barely played in them outside of Montreal.

 

[Favster]

where's Michoulicious to tell us Reinbacher is a useless plug after scoring a goal and an assist

It makes me laugh out loud when I see people overreact to players performances on a game by game basis here, just constantly living a rollercoaster ride. Have people never heard of sample size? It's like the most important and basic thing for any type of statistical analysis.

 

[Doom Bot]

I only caught parts of the game but I love his first pass.

 

[WeThreeKings]

It makes me laugh out loud when I see people overreact to players performances on a game by game basis here, just constantly living a rollercoaster ride. Have people never heard of sample size? It's like the most important and basic thing for any type of statistical analysis.

The worst part is that people have this expectation of what a 5th OA looks like so when Reinbacher is making efficient plays all over the ice, that don't pop, they think its a lack of ability. Not being able to appreciate how those things add up to winning in the long run.

As a goalie, give me David Reinbacher for as many minutes as you possibly can every game. A coach will tell you the same thing.

Funny thing is he's even being efficient offensively. But people will focus on the one bad shift. They analyze all of our players at a shift by shift and everyone else at a macro.

 

[Benstheman]

I can't believe how people are panicking on GDT about the two losses.

This is a team full of young prospects against a team full of career AHLers.

What I'm seeing is Kapanen and Reinbacher are doing really well in this series despite the 0-2 deficit. Calm and collected. Young players like Mailloux, Xhekaj and Beck who tend to play more of an emotional game, are overwhelmed by the situation right now. They are playing out of their game plan. And I think it's a good thing they are here to live this experience against a tough, experienced team. They need to learn to channel their aggressiveness and emotion level better.

 

[Tyson]

I can't believe how people are panicking on GDT about the two losses.

This is a team full of young prospects against a team full of career AHLers.

What I'm seeing is Kapanen and Reinbacher are doing really well in this series despite the 0-2 deficit. Calm and collected. Young players like Mailloux, Xhekaj and Beck who tend to play more of an emotional game, are overwhelmed by the situation right now. They are playing out of their game plan. And I think it's a good thing they are here to live this experience against a tough, experienced team. They need to learn to channel their aggressiveness and emotion level better.

This will be at least a 13 game playoff run and you are right...this current series against a tough, experienced team will benefit the youngsters immensely.

 

[Tyson]

Reinbacher has emerged as clearly the best prospect that is closest to the NHL.
I was thinking Mailloux was ahead of him but that is not the case.
No other prospect will have the impact of DR.
The other prospects will not be NHL ready next season and that's ok.

 

[Adriatic]

First time I've actually watched some Rocket games the last few weeks and I don't know what some people are smoking but Reinbacher is by far the best we have down there.

 

[BLONG7]

What a goal he scored last night..............picked up an assist, and does the small things very well.

Good days ahead boys......

 

[KevSkillz4]

When I watch a Laval game, Reinbacher stand out everytime.

He make great first pass, he can push in the attack, he have great stick at D, he have great vision in offense and defense.

He have underatted shot, his slapshot is something and he can hit.

He is by far the best D in Laval and have everything to become a top pairing D at NHL level.

 

[Legend123]

When I watch a Laval game, Reinbacher stand out everytime.

He make great first pass, he can push in the attack, he have great stick at D, he have great vision in offense and defense.

He have underatted shot, his slapshot is something and he can hit.

He is by far the best D in Laval and have everything to become a top pairing D at NHL level.

Didn't u hear? After every loss he's a nothing burger who won't do anything for us

 

[Legend123]

Reinbacher thread in a nutshell:

 

[KevSkillz4]

Didn't u hear? After every loss he's a nothing burger who won't do anything for us

Some people don't watch all details. But if people watch the details, they would see the high potential of Reinbacher.

 

[Soaker]

I think the reason they traded Kovacevic had more to do with Barron. He was no longer waiver exempt so they wanted to make room for him to play. Unfortunately, Barron didn't take advantage. And when the Habs' evaluation was concluded, they traded him for Carrier.

This isn't to say that if Reinbacher didn't get injured that he wouldn't start in Montreal. He could very well have and it would be between him and Barron on who can hold onto one of the RD spots. And if Reinbacher couldn't, he could be sent to Laval without waivers.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. In this case eggshell, counting your chickens before they've hatched. Best to know what you got before making rash decisions.

 

[Soaker]

Entering the season, we had Matheson, Guhle and Savard in our top 3 and Hutson, Barron, Xhekaj and Struble vying for playing time. I don't think neither Reinbacher, nor Mailloux were pencilled to be in the lineup.

There's no reason to rush Reinbacher next season, considering the time lost to injury. The management should definitely search the market for a RHD option for next season. It would also allow for an asset management approach when it comes to Matheson's extension.

Pretty sure they were counting on Reinbacher not getting injured and being part of the team, so that would suggest they were not appraising the talent properly to get rid of Kovacevic as they did and they sure could have used him much more than a Barron that was so inconsistent or a Xhekaj or Struble that struggled often.

 

[Soaker]

Hughes repeated at the most recent press conference that he doesn’t like “blocking the way” of prospects and doesn’t want them to feel discouraged about their chances with the NHL team’s roster. That explains Kovacevic being dumped for nothing.

All signs point to them penciling Reino as a top7 dman in the NHL last September. Maybe this coming September it’ll be different because of his injury and whatnot but the market for RHD is brutal so I don’t know if they won’t defer to Reino out of simple opportunity cost.

Kovacevic for a fourth round pick,fourth! most fourth rounders never play in the nhl.lol

 

[Soaker]

I believe it was the hope, yes, and I also think that trade happened because of it. But this injury changed the planning, I'm quite sure of it too. Acquiring a vet RD for 2 years would be the safe route, and Mailloux could also get a chance.

Thought I heard that too.

 

[HabsAddict]

First...i like Rein...

But what suprises me is that no one brings up any failures or mistakes.

So I'll just go with the flow...HE'S FANTASTIC...

...and never mind he was out of position and didn't close the gap on the 3rd goal.

Sadly, he was the best of a pretty sad lot. Our defenseman are not use to heavy physicality and hardly could contain the Checkers.

As for "my boy" M, he soiled the bed. It wasn't losing the puck on the PP, the Checkers did that to everyone, it was getting caught flat footed by a Checkers forward who simply sailed past him. No goal but that was just too much of a failure. 2 on 1? It happens and more often then not, it is the forwards fault. But if an opposing player is in front of him, he has to react instinctivly to stop or impeded him, not watch him sail past. He's making it a habit of being a beast in one game...and a beast of burden in another.

As for Rein, he's got a lot of good to very good qualities but he's not NHL top 6 ready. I'm not so sure that HuGo is going to see him as top 6 ready either. Nor do i think he will risk part of the season while Rein improves.

Let's see what happens...

 

[Captain Mountain]

Pretty sure they were counting on Reinbacher not getting injured and being part of the team, so that would suggest they were not appraising the talent properly to get rid of Kovacevic as they did and they sure could have used him much more than a Barron that was so inconsistent or a Xhekaj or Struble that struggled often.

Do you have anything to support this claim? Because even on the face of it, the idea that the team thought a teenager D who didn't have a standout season was NHL ready seems ridiculous. And I don't recall any comments from management or people who seriously cover the team talk about that. I actually just re-read a couple of articles from around training camp and both stated that barring an extraordinary camp from either of them barring an fantastic camp Reinbacher and Engström were AHL bound.

It was more about Montreal at the time having a pool of 3 other veterans and up to 6-7 prospects who needed to get a shot at NHL playing time.

And If you think Struble struggled often, but that Kovacevic was a major loss, I'm not sure you paid attention the entire season. Frankly, the bigger takeaway is the need to be patient with prospects/young D and that trading Savard at the 2023 deadline would have probably been better.