It was always a matter of time, but the Montreal Canadiens have officially assigned defender David Reinbacher to the Laval Rocket.
Reinbacher’s season in Switzerland ended after no remaining team in the Swiss playoffs were eligible for promotion. The Austrian defender was selected fifth overall by the Canadiens the 2023 NHL Draft. In 35 games this season, he had one goal and 10 assists
It has been a season to forget for Reinbacher in Kloten where the team finished at the bottom of the standings, and it hasn’t been smooth sailing for the Rocket either. The Rocket are coming off of a 7-1 loss to Toronto on Sunday and are three points out of a playoff spot in the AHL North Division.
Reinbacher will look to provide the team with a little bit of a boost, and it will be a first experience with North American professional hockey for the youngster which will give him a better opportunity to prepare for next season. It is a path the Canadiens used with Jayden Struble, who has established himself in the NHL in his first full pro season. Joshua Roy also spent time in Laval before becoming a Rocket full-time and has also made a quick jump to the NHL. Cole Caufield briefly played in Laval before earning himself an NHL call up as well.
There is no indication to when Reinbacher will play his first game for the Rocket. Head coach Jean-François Houle has been notorious for not rushing players into the lineup, but with 12 games remaining for Laval it can be expected that he will play in most of those games.
The Rocket have a full week of practice before road games Friday and Saturday in Belleville, Sunday in Toronto and next Wednesday in Utica. The Rocket’s next home game is Friday, March 29 against Belleville.
Patrik Bexell and Thibaud Chatel discuss Reinbacher’s season and assignment to the Laval Rocket.
