With the end of his season in Europe, the Montreal Canadiens prospect is expected to join the organization this coming week.
On Friday, Montreal Canadiens management kept a close eye on the matchup that featured Olten and the GCK Lions in Switzerland. The result of the game determined whether David Reinbacher would be eligible to come to North America or if his season would be extended for the duration of another series.
The good news for the Canadiens is that the GCK Lions won the series and liberated the path for Reinbacher to travel to North America to pursue his season. The organization likely wants him to get a head start in adapting to professional hockey on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
In Switzerland, the six-foot three-inch defenseman played with EHC Kloten that had a bad season with more than one coaching change. He finished the season with one goal, 11 points and a minus-15 rating.
There hasn't been an announcement made by the Canadiens, but it is expected that Reinbacher will join the Laval Rocket. This would be a good move for Reinbacher as he get the opportunity to play some meaningful games with a team that is fighting for a playoff spot, while adapting to his new environment. He didn't have the opportunity to play in important games in Switzerland this season.
"If he comes here, we will definitely use him," Jean-Francois Houle said following the Rocket's game on Friday. "He did good at rookie camp; a big right-handed defenseman that can skate and do good zone exits. We will take our time with him. If he comes here, we’ll try to put him in situations to succeed."
It will not be the first time or last time that a prospect is parachuted into Laval's roster towards the end of the season. When that happens, the organization isn't focused on the numbers they produce on the scoresheet.
"It’s not easy sometimes when you come from the NCAA or Europe, you go from the big ice to small ice. It’s an adjustment. All we want is that the players come here and get comfortable with our team," stated Houle.
While Houle and his coaching staff focus on helping the Rocket clinch a playoff spot, they will receive assistance from the organization to develop the new additions.
"They’re here to learn, whether if it’s in the stands, they can learn from upstairs and from video, or on the ice. We have a lot of development coaches that will be around the team for a while, especially if we have a lot of players. It’s good for them to get their feet wet to pro hockey," noted the coach.
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Making Room for Additions
Every game for Rocket until the end of the season will be important. Every point matters as the remaining schedule is against North Division rivals.
"He’s a fifth overall pick. He’s a big right-shot defenseman, he can skate, moves well, defends well, so if he can help us in the playoffs it would be a big gift for us," said Logan Mailloux remarking on the potential of Reinbacher joining the team.
One of the risks in late-season arrivals is the chemistry in the locker room will be tested. Reinbacher obtaining ice time means that someone currently on the roster will have to sit or see their usage decrease.
Houle trusts his leaders to welcome new additions with arms wide open. The coach has gone through this before and anticipates that he will have tough conversations coming up.
"We will manage that situation when we get there. In the AHL, everything happens at the last minute," he said on Friday. He added that the coaching staff will start thinking of what they can do over the next couple of days.
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