Just a few short days into the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp, fifth-overall pick David Reinbacher has put pen to paper with the club on his entry-level contract.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract (2023-24 to 2025-26) with defenseman David Reinbacher.#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/mDWDY0JG7P
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 5, 2023
The deal runs from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The deal has a European assignment clause in the first two years and a base cap hit of $950,000. He can earn up to $2.117 million with bonuses.
David Reinbacher #GoHabsGo
3 year ELC
$950k cap hit & $2.117M AAVBreakdown:
Yr 1&2: 855k + 95k SB + 1M type 'A' PB
Yr3: 855k + 95k SB + 1M type 'A' PB + 500k type 'B' PBEuropean Assignment Clause in Yrs 1&2
Rep'd by Maloney & Thompson Sports Mngmthttps://t.co/bkMW4EAolH
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 5, 2023
The European Assignment clause allows Reinbacher to invoke it and return to Europe during either of the first two years. As an example, if he were to start either of the 2023-24 or 2024-25 seasons in Laval, but preferred to finish the year in Europe, he could make that call thanks to the clause being present in his deal.
There was a decidedly mixed reaction to the pick among the Habs fan base, but the young Austrian has been impressing in his short time at development camp. He’s gradually winning over some of the doubters, and shown some very intriguing chemistry with Lane Hutson, one of the most exciting prospects in the organization.
Reinbacher is expected to head back to EHC Kloten in the Swiss league for this season, so the contract is but a formality unless he really makes himself undeniable at the next stage of camp. Should he be back in Switzerland as expected, the three-year deal would slide and begin in 2024-25. The contract would also slide should he play in the AHL and end the season with fewer than 10 NHL games.
