If the Arizona Coyotes want to select a reliable defenseman, David Reinbacher may be their guy.
Having both the sixth and 12th overall picks in the 2023 NHL Draft, the Arizona Coyotes have countless different options they can take.
While this draft class is very forward heavy, the Coyotes could use another young defenseman. One defenseman they should consider selecting in the first round is David Reinbacher.
This past season, Reinbacher played in the Swiss National League for EHC Kloten where he had three goals, 19 assists and 22 points in 46 games.
The 18-year-old has the perfect frame for a defenseman standing at 6 '2'’ and weighing in at about 187 pounds which should be able to utilize well in the NHL.
“He’s a mobile, 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman who can contribute at both ends,” The Athletic’s Corey Pronman said. “Reinbacher’s gap control is strong, killing a lot of plays due to his feet and reach even if he’s not overly physical.”
It seems Reinbacher would be a safe pick for the Coyotes. He is known for his strong defensive game using his aggressive play and high hockey IQ to his advantage.
In a league that is trending towards faster defenseman, Reinbacher is more of a traditional defenseman which teams especially need come playoff time.
“Reinbacher is a force in transition, active in all three zones, and proficient at generating defensive stops,” Marek Novotny of EP Rinkside wrote. “He’s a powerful, agile skater, but where he stands out for me is his commitment and ability to read the play and then react as a quality defensive defenseman.He’s playing massive minutes as a first-time draft-eligible skater in Switzerland’s top men’s league.”
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The Coyotes have some promising defensive prospects that include Victor Soderstrom, Maveric Lamoureux and Artyom Duda but the team has drafted a number of forwards with their first-round selections and need to add more quality young defenseman.
Reinbacher has the ability to be a top–four defenseman on any team in the NHL if he is able to reach his highest potential so the Coyotes should keep an eye out for him in the draft.