Kent Hughes: “The reaction of the fans influences when we’ll call up David Reinbacher.”

Félix Forget
Kent Hughes: “The reaction of the fans influences when we’ll call up David Reinbacher.”
Credit: Screenshot/Twitter

At the 2023 draft, the Canadiens held the fifth overall pick. And it took the opportunity to select David Reinbacher.

And with Matvei Michkov still available, it wasn't a unanimous choice.

Almost three years later, Reinbacher still hasn't played in the show. Injuries have really slowed down his development, to the point where there's cause for concern.

Kent Hughes, however, doesn't seem to mind too much. He still likes what he sees in his young defenseman (he obviously wasn't going to say otherwise), but he did note something interesting about the kid during his appearance on Basu & Godin Notebook:

With all the noise surrounding his selection since we turned up our noses at [Matvei] Michkov, we need to make sure he's really NHL-ready when we call him back. – Kent Hughes

What we understand, then, is that the fans' (negative) reaction to Reinbacher's choice is a game-changer in town. The club can't treat him as just another prospect: it has to make sure it doesn't make him look bad by bringing him to the NHL too quickly.

The GM knows that recalling a guy too quickly in a rebuild is a big risk to take. So he doesn't want to put Reinbacher, who's already under a lot of pressure (despite himself), in that situation.

It's interesting to wonder whether Reinbacher, in a world where he had another name, would ever have had a chance in Montreal. Perhaps not, given that injuries have slowed him down (and Hughes has admitted as much), but the question remains interesting.

The GM, for his part, is hoping that Reinbacher will be able to find consistency and play a full season as soon as possible. He also noted that Reinbacher is bigger now than he was when he was drafted.

We'll see how the club handles the next steps in terms of Reinbacher and his development, but almost three years after his selection, the reaction that followed still influences the Habs' decisions.

And that's just from the GM.


Overtime

– Speaking of Habs prospects.

– Not crazy.

– What do you think?

– It's still the talk of the town.

– Interesting.

facebook icon Share twitter icon Tweet linkedin icon Share
Copied!