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Official: It’s NHL or Europe for Reinbacher next season

We’re starting to get answers to our questions about David Reinbacher.

At first glance, everyone was wondering where he was going to play next year, and it seems there are only two options left.

We’re talking NHL… or Europe.

The sporting director of Kloten (Reinbacher’s team in Switzerland), Larry Mitchell, says he has reached an agreement with the Canadian that Reinbacher will not be able to play in the AHL or junior hockey next season:

If he makes it to the NHL on the first try, we’ll be very happy for him. And if he doesn’t, we’ll be delighted to have him at Kloten for another year. – Larry Mitchell

This is not necessarily surprising. And it’s perhaps the best possible decision for his development.

After all, we know there will be congestion on the Laval Rocket blue line, and Jean-François Houle might not have had the opportunity to give him the role that suits his progression.

In Europe, he’ll be away from the cameras and should have the chance to play big minutes. That’s what I like about the idea of seeing him play in Switzerland in 2023-2024.

Because, realistically speaking…

The chances of him breaking into the CH lineup early next season are slim. I expect him to play a few games early in the campaign if he has a really good camp, but nothing more.

Filip Mesar in Laval?

Marc Dumont reported it in a recent text. Everything points to Filip Mesar playing in Laval next season.

In fact, the CH prospect confided in an interview that the organization had told him the AHL was waiting for him, and that there was even a chance he’d play an NHL game early in the campaign if he stood out at training camp.

So, in theory, his junior year would be over… And I seem to have a problem with this.

It bothers me a little because Mesar didn’t break anything in 2022-2023 in the OHL. He was expected to quickly become one of the most dominant players on the circuit, but that hasn’t been the case.

The Slovak claimed 51 points (14 goals) in 52 games… But he especially “disappointed” in the playoffs with a collection of four points (one goal) in the space of nine games.

But hey. If the organization deems that the best choice for his development is to have him play at the professional level next year, that’ll be it.

He should add to a fairly young Rocket squad. And that, by necessity, makes for an exciting team to follow next season.


In gusto

– Speaking of Reinbacher.

– Who will be on the cover of NHL 24?

– For sure.

– It’s not always accurate.

That’s it.

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