Patience Is In Order For Canadiens Prospect Reinbacher

There was some very encouraging news on Friday, with injured Montreal Canadiens prospect David Reinbacher was spotted practicing with a regular jersey alongside Laval Rocket players.

The original diagnosis following an unfortunate incident that injured his left knee was five to six months, placing his return somewhere between late February and early March.

Of course, we can’t assume he will play in the very near future, but it does seem like he’s progressing nicely, which means there’s a chance he can return to play ahead of schedule.

À l’arena Guimond ce matin pour l’entraînement du @RocketLaval.

Pas de Laurent Dauphin, ni de Logan Mailloux sur la glace.

MAIS, David Reinbacher y est avec un chandail régulier. Il s’approche dangereusement d’un retour au jeu. pic.twitter.com/dcXJr8Eb4X

— Vincent Demuy (@VDemuy) February 14, 2025

If he’s ready by the end of February, he will have an opportunity to play roughly 20 games in the AHL before the end of the season, a fairly healthy workload when we consider there was a possibility he could miss most of the year.

It would be great timing for the Rocket, as they’re currently the top team in the league, and are aiming for a healthy run in the playoffs in a bid to capture the team’s first Calder Cup. There’s also a possibility the Canadiens will move a defenceman or two at the deadline, which would put more pressure on the young defencemen that are currently playing for the Rocket, as well as opening up important ice time for Reinbacher.

MUST READ: Montreal Canadiens Must Keep A Close Eye On The Laval Rocket As The Trade Deadline Looms

P Is For Patience

At the risk of pontificating about the impact of long-term injuries, just like Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine before him, Reinbacher will need a lot of time to find his rhythm.

Fans are probably sick of hearing this injury-related refrain, however, there’s no denying an athlete that suffers a significant injury to his knee will need ample runway once he’s ready to return to play.

Especially a younger prospect who had already gone through a frustrating Draft+1 season in the National League (Swiss), such as Reinbacher. Not only did he have to deal with an early injury, which completely derailed his momentum, he also had three different head coaches in just one season, the polar opposite of consistency.

When Reinbacher returns, he will be playing against opponents who are in top form, making it a very difficult hill to climb at this late point of the season.

It’s not a matter of babying Reinbacher, either.

It’s simply the reality when professional sports intersect with serious injuries.

Just as the 20th century poet William Bruce Rose Jr explained in 1989, all we need is a little patience.