The Montreal Canadiens' defenseman, selected fifth-overall at the 2023 NHL Draft, has joined the Laval Rocket following the end of Kloten's season.
The answer to the question many in Montreal have posed for the past month or so has finally been answered: When will Habs prospect David Reinbacher come over to North America?
After his European team, Kloten, saw their season come to end on Friday, the next stop for the young defenseman was Canada, where the Montreal Canadiens have assigned him to finish out the season with the Laval Rocket in the AHL.
Reinbacher's season in Kloten had its ups and downs, including injury challenges and turnover among the coaching staff. The 19-year-old finished the season with 11 points, courtesy of one goal and 10 assists.
Now he begins taking the next steps toward his eventual NHL debut, as he spends time with Laval learning the nuances of North American hockey: the smaller ice, the pace of play, and the physicality of the AHL game, to name a few.
It's not expected that Reinbacher will immediately come onto the scene looking like a top-five draft pick, but rather that he will use these games to gather information on what he'll most need to focus on in off-season training.
Kent Hughes reportedly stated this week that Reinbacher will not play for the Canadiens in the NHL this season, but confirmed that the defenseman will make his Rocket debut this weekend. The team will play three games this weekend, so how soon will Reinbacher draw into the lineup?
On my latest episode of Rocket Hockey Report, I give my thoughts on the answer to that question, provide more details about Reinbacher's arrival and update viewers on how close Laval remains to grabbing hold off a playoff spot.
Simply click to watch the video below, or follow this link to watch on YouTube: David Reinbacher Begins New Chapter With Laval Rocket
New Video: David Reinbacher Arrives in Laval
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il_ivJDNpXc[/embed]
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