Canadiens Analysis
Impact Of Reinbacher Injury On Canadiens Roster Construction
The Montreal Canadiens have offered an update as to the injury status of defensive prospect David Reinbacher.
The 19-year-old necessitated a surgical intervention to repair his left knee, which was injured in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The recovery period is expected to be five to six months.
Reinbacher’s injury didn’t look particularly serious at first, as the contact he took wasn’t overly violent, but it did lead him to landing awkwardly on his knee, which forced him to leave the game after just 13 seconds of ice time.
This didn’t look like a lot of contact, but Reinbacher left the game in a lot of pain after this play.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/oMgLy28Dfe
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) September 28, 2024
Obviously this is a highly disappointing situation for a young player who was hoping to put a difficult 2023-24 season behind him. Losing most of his D+2 season after a tumultuous D+1 season is the epitome of a difficult situation for a young player, especially when it comes to his development. Reinbacher’s time with EHC Kloten last year was the epitome of a lost development year, however, he did play quite well once he arrived in North America and featured in a handful of games for the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. He even managed to score a goal in his first game, a very nice play that reminded everyone Reinbacher can make a positive impact when his confidence is overflowing.
It’s also quite concerning that he’s dealing with yet another lower-body injury at such a young age, as Reinbacher was forced to miss time in the NL last year, which derailed the start to his season.
On Topic: Canadiens Roster And Depth Chart – Job Openings Following Laine and Reinbacher Injuries
The fallout of the injury is simple, there are now very few defencemen in the running to fill out the remainder of the lineup. Depending on whether the Canadiens run with seven or eight defencemen this year, there will either be one or two defensive positions available as the team decides upon its final roster, with players such as Logan Mailloux, Adam Engstrom, and Jayden Struble vying for the final spots.
The Habs open the season on October 8, at Bell Centre, facing their longtime Ontario rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Reinbacher had surgery on his right knee? I thought he hurt his left knee in that collision.
It was definitely his left knee. I was in the metro while writing, don’t mind me. Fixed, thanks!
No worries. I thought it was a typo, but then I was wondering if I missed something. 😁
It was entirely me rushing to get the article out, while walking around in a metro station with my laptop trying to find a decent signal.
It’s a glamorous job, I tell ya!
It’s a job that many of us greatly appreciate, so thank you. I admire the ability to churn out content daily for the masses. It’s most definitely a skill, especially to the level we’re accustomed to receiving from you and your site.
Much obliged!
Absolutely! Your output, even in the dog days of summer, is truly impressive Marc!
I view hockey development like learning a language. They younger that you are, the easier it is to learn a language and be accent free. Likewise, the younger you are, the more hardwired you become in terms of playing a sport. When Michael Jordan tried to play baseball, he failed- not due to genetic and psychological factors (such as heart and determination) but because he missed out on a window opportunity to be able to process a baseball moving at 100 MPH. Had he started this sport earlier, he would not have had as “thick an accent” and he likely would have thrived. Saku Koivu was on track to be a superstar but instead became a very good player due to key injuries when he was young. Reinbacher may become a very good NHLer but this two year delay in his development is troubling to say the least. Have the Habs finally hit rock bottom in the bad luck sweepstakes? I sure hope so. Very sad news.
On that topic, have you watched the 30 for 30 on Jordan’s time playing baseball? Very interesting, and he was clearly making headway, but as you mentioned, being a professional athlete is not just a matter of talent, it’s also a matter of putting thousands of hours of practice into play to match the talent.
I didn’t see this particular episode. The general rule of thumb is that it takes 10,000 hours to be an expert at any thing. This does not mean that you can become a McDavid but perhaps a Pezzeta. Genes, psychological makeup, opportunities, environment, training, and window of learning amongst other factors are essential. The silver lining with Reinbacher is he is a defense first defender. “Skill” is less a factor in his development. Perhaps, my concerns for him are less problematic. Our fan base needs to accept the reality that defensemen take a VERY LONG time to develop. Patience and support is key.