I can actually see why some would be skeptical about Reinbacher. He doesn't possess many elite traits that are apparent on the eye test. He has a number of good tools. He doesn't have much, if any, deception on offense, which you generally expect from a top 5 pick, nor does he have the power game of someone like Seider. He's advertised as a defensive defenseman, but the truth is he's made a lot of mistakes. The upside isn't clear yet, because he hasn't really adapted or grown into his game yet. I think people would have been disappointed with picking Heiskanen over Michkov, but would have immediately fell in love with his game right from his D+2 training camp. I mentioned I like Reinbacher's game, the way he snuffs out players along the boards, how rangy he is, the first pass option, but he's still raw and the truth is he's not what you typically see from a top 5 pick in that kind of draft.
Now that being said, Reinbacher was really, really for Laval last year down the stretch. I fully expect even better this year. I think he'll quickly overtake both Mailloux and Barron.
I'm curious about your point of reference for 5OA?
Since 2000, these are the dmen picked 5OA
Sanderson - NHL start D3 (little case to be made RB wouldn't be dominant in NCAA like Sanderson was in his D2)
Juolevi - bust
Hanifin - D7 before he really firmed up top pairing role.
Rielly - AHL/NHL D2, D3-4 top pairing minutes & role
Schenn - never really played at top pairing level, solid stretch as a reliable defensive top 4, now a quality bottom pairing
Alzner - nuff said lol
Whitney - NHL start D5
So, I'm curious how you look at the historical progression curves of 5OA picks and conclude that RB, at start of D2, is somehow behind that curve? I just don't see it relative to the historical context.
The 2023 draft is far too young to make any strong assertions about its NHL quality. Bedard is a unique/rare talent, but after that, remains to be seen how the top 10-15 compares to other drafts over time. Within the draft class, there's little case to be made that RB has significantly underwhelmed vis-a-vis the players available at 5OA imo.
Removing the relative context, what we do see in his play right now is quite promising for a ceiling that would see him as a top pairing fixture for a long time should he reach it, imo.