(Nashville) Last February, a Canadiens scout asked Larry Mitchell, general manager of EHC Kloten, Switzerland, what might be holding David Reinbacher up in the NHL.
His response was quick, unambiguous: “Nothing. »
The message got through to Montreal. Wednesday night in Nashville, the defender became the Habs’ first-round pick. His name was spoken at number five, much earlier than most projections predicted.
Met in the heights of the Bridgestone Arena after his protege had become a member of the CH, Mitchell continued the anecdote. “I told the scout that I was sure he was going to play in the NHL, but I couldn’t predict when. Then he watched a few games and a few practices. We had coffee, and he admitted to me that he was in agreement. He had seen the same thing. »
The entire Montreal management came to the same conclusion. Because at the fifth level, striker Matvei Michkov was still available. The organization, however, set its sights on Reinbacher, whose name had been linked to that of the Canadian for a while now. Kent Hughes, managing director, even described it as a “diamond in the rough that still has a lot of potential”.
The Austrian is recognized for his composure in possession of the puck and for his outstanding skating. Reliable in coverage in his zone, he blossomed offensively last season in the Swiss Premier League, scoring 22 points in 46 games. Some analytical models see him as the biggest defensive star to come from this country since Roman Josi. Lucky coincidence, the captain of the Nashville Predators is precisely the idol of Reinbacher, who admitted to having tears in his eyes when he met him at the arena on Wednesday evening.
Posed and frank in front of the army of Quebec journalists around him, he underlined how much an “incredible feeling” inhabited him. “I still can’t believe it!” “, he launched.
He did not expect to be selected so soon, he admitted, although his last meeting with members of the CH staff on Tuesday left him with the impression that he was their man. .
The young man has experienced an exceptional rise over the past year. In Kloten, he was not destined to play on the power play. He quickly became the quarterback on the first massive attacking wave. His coach, Jeff Tomlinson, confirmed that he had “exceeded all expectations” based on him, without being particularly spectacular on the ice.
“He’s a guy who keeps it simple and creates offense that way,” Tomlinson said. He has strengths in all facets of his game.” In his first season in Division 1, let alone in one of Europe’s fastest-paced leagues, “he handled situations under pressure very well,” continued the trainer, who believes that his colt will be able to transpose these performances on a North American ice rink.
Kent Hughes praised his “very, very high defensive intelligence”.
He’s seen as “probably a second defenseman,” but he doesn’t seem to be expected to drive a first NHL power play.
At 6’2″ and 194 lbs, he will also need to gain muscle.
The impression he left in an interview with management also weighed heavily in the balance. Hughes appreciated his humility and obvious willingness to “put on his boots to work and help us win the Stanley Cup.”
Invited to say what he knew of the Canadian, the young man listed the names of a few attackers – Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki – and a defender, Lane Hutson, who has never yet played in the NHL.
“He scored a great goal against us at the World Championship,” the Austrian recalled with a smile. I can’t wait to meet him. »
If the hasty choice of Reinbacher caused some surprise in the public and among NHL observers, Kent Hughes left no doubt about the Canadian’s intentions. It was indeed his name that was at the top of the list for the fifth place.
Several teams tried to gain echelons in the first round and made offers to obtain the choice of CH. At the end of the day on Wednesday, however, Hughes consulted with his scouting group, and it was decided that the team would use their pick to get the defender. The Arizona Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers, among others, held him in high esteem.
Choosing Reinbacher, however, meant ignoring Matvei Michkov, a Russian striker with undeniable offensive qualities, but whom the Canadian had never had the chance to see play in person.
“There are so many factors that come into play,” Hughes explained. I believe a lot in video, but it’s not just that. We haven’t seen him play. »
The GM insisted on one point: he chose the best possible player according to his team’s evaluation, regardless of position. The fact that Reinbacher is a right-handed defender, a rarity in the club’s prospect pool, is seen as a bonus.
This is the third time in four years that CH has drafted a defender in the first round. In 2020, the team claimed Kaiden Guhle in 16th place, while in 2021, in 31st place, Montreal created a commotion by selecting Logan Mailloux. Guhle has just spent the entire season with the big club, while Mailloux should theoretically begin his professional career next fall.
Reinbacher is the earliest defenseman drafted in Canadiens history, tied with Petr Svoboda in 1984 and Pierre Bouchard in 1965.
The announcement of Reinbacher’s selection by the Canadiens gave rise to the funniest moment of the evening. At Hughes’ invitation, Carey Price stepped up to the microphone. He waved to the crowd and said the first name “David”. He then froze, having obviously forgotten Reinbacher’s last name. The crowd started to liven up, and after endless seconds, the GM finally put him out of his misery. “It was embarrassing. Sorry, David… Reinbacher! “, later wrote the guardian on Twitter, adding emojis that confirmed his self-mockery. Kent Hughes said he told Price he didn’t have to feel bad, since the young defender would probably remember his selection more than the incident.
