Should rookie defenseman David Reinbacher start the season in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens or in the AHL with the Laval Rocket?
Since Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton took over the hockey operations department, the Montreal Canadiens have built a stable of young and up-and-coming NHL defensemen. As the Canadiens prepare for the third full season under the Gorton/Hughes regime, some of those blue-chip prospects are poised to crack the Canadiens’ NHL roster out of training camp.
One of those defensemen is David Reinbacher, the Austrian rearguard that the Canadiens chose fifth overall at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Reinbacher made his way over to North America from EHC Cloten in the Swiss A League late last season and had two goals and three assists with Laval. While the Canadiens and their fans wouldn’t mind the 6-foot-3, 209-pound defenseman making the 2024-25 NHL roster, it may not be the right time for his NHL career to begin.
Appearing on the latest Eye Test Podcast on the Sick Podcast Network, former Laval Rocket head coach JF Houle was asked by my co-host, longtime NHL analyst and former NHL coach and executive Pierre McGuire, what prospect he coached in Laval is ready to make the jump and make an impact for the Canadiens?
“I don’t want to put you on the spot because I’ve been in your shoes, but I’m gonna ask it anyways: Is there one prospect in Laval that you’d say, ‘Montreal fans, this guy’s gonna rock your world!’?” McGuire asked the new Clarkson University head coach.
“I would say [Logan] Mailloux last year, I think, was excellent for us,” the former Rocket bench boss said. “He made the rookie team. He’s an excellent defenseman. I think he can play. He’s good defensively and good offensively, and he’s got a lot to offer.”
After Houle signed off, McGuire gave his take on that, and Mailloux, who had 14 goals, 33 assists, and 91 penalty minutes in 72 games playing for the Rocket, and one assist in one game with the Canadiens last season.
“So, you don’t hear Sean Farrell’s name, and I think Farrell has a chance, but again, how many small guys can you have,” McGuire said. “Kaiden Guhle’s already there. He never coached Lane Hutson. You know he did have Struble. He had Struble, but he said, Mailloux. I was thinking he said Mailloux, but I wasn’t sure. I was kind of thinking he’d bring up Owen Beck.”
“What about Reinbacher?” I asked my co-host.
“No, he didn’t have him long enough,” McGuire replied. “And I like Reinbacher, but he needs to go there (Laval), and they need to tell him: ‘Get an apartment there. Get comfortable there. We’re gonna take care of ya, but you’re going there!’
That’s what needs to happen. He needs to just not even fantasize about playing in the NHL this year. You’re going to play in the American League.”
