DAVID REINBACHER

2025-05-28

Scout: Grant Campbell

Skating:

There is a bit of a caveat with Reinbacher as he missed six months of hockey with an ACL injury for much of 2024-25 which might take him time to get back to 100%. Having said that, he has good mobility in all directions but is not necessarily a smooth skater. He's a very good skater when at top speed and is deceptively quick for his size. He's slightly above average overall for a defender.

Passing/Handling:

He's not afraid to carry the puck and can stickhandle around the first defender, but won't dangle a team. He has good hands in tight and a nice reach. He has a very good breakout pass and good touch on his other passes. He can quarterback a power play, but the first unit of an NHL team might be a stretch.

Shooting:

He possesses a good quick and accurate snapshot, from the blueline. I don't think he'll ever be a 15-goal scorer in the NHL, but perhaps 8-12 in a good year.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

He sees the ice well and scans frequently when going back on the puck into the DZ. He's very safe with the puck and has excellent poise. He directs traffic and communicates often with his teammates on defence, which to me is a very good sign for such a young player in the AHL. He anticipates very well and usually makes good pinches.

Forechecking:

He's a strong kid, with a good reach and when he uses his body, he won't lose many board battles.

Defense:

He has very good gap control and blocks out well in front of his own net. He's not an overly aggressive defender and will err on the conservative side of things when defending. He's at his best when physically engaged and moving his feet. Being physical is not his first choice, as he rarely goes out of his way to make the hit. He can have a bit of a mean streak at times.

Best Asset:

Defence is Reinbacher's bread and butter and what will potentially allow him to play 1,000 games in the NHL. He does have offence to give but it should be gravy to the defence.

Biggest Concern:

That the pressure of being a 5th overall pick (over the likes of Michkov) in a market like Montreal might weigh on his mind and curtail his development.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

A top-two defender who gets 8-12 goals and 35-45 points and plays 20+ minutes per game. 100 hits and blocks might be attainable

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

He should develop into a very steady defender who could complement a defensive partner who has a lot more offense (Lane Hutson).

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

A second or third pairing defender who plays 16-20 minutes per game and puts up 20-30 points a year.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

This should be his floor but he'll still need to prove that he can play at the NHL level. After missing most of the 2024-25 campaign, he'll likely need to play 30-40 AHL games in 2025-26 before getting a look in Montreal.

Stylistic Comparable:

Montreal would love to have a similar player to Moritz Seider who was taken 6th overall in 2019, but Reinbacher is not nearly as physical. They share similar offensive capabilities, but Reinbacher is unlikely to supplant Lane Hutson any time soon on the power play in Montreal.

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

It's difficult to not bias your opinion on a 5th overall pick. Reinbacher should become a very good NHL defender but might not ever live up to that draft position. He's played just 59 games of hockey over the past two seasons and needs to stay healthy and play more than 50 in 2025-26.

Games Scouted:

02/19/25 AHL; 03/05/25 AHL; 04/18/25 AHL

2024-05-19

Scout: Joshua Rosa

Skating:

While Reinbacher won’t beat players in a flat out foot race, he still moves well for a big defender, and uses smart positioning and spatial awareness so he is rarely in a poor position. He can be sneakily fast on the weak side in a breakout when he sees an opportunity to jump up in the play. He skates fluidly and corners well.

Passing/Handling:

Reinbacher can surprise with some soft hands through the neutral zone, just watch his first AHL goal, especially for someone with his size and reputation. His passing could use some work, but that is more of a problem with his decision making rather than skill.

Shooting:

In the offensive zone, Reinbacher’s best skill is his shot. He has a really heavy, accurate shot, whether its a wrister or slapper. He can reliably get the puck through crowds and hit the net.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

One of the biggest problems I found with Reinbacher’s game is his decision making under pressure. Too often, when he had the puck on his stick in his own zone, it ended up on the stick of an opponent, or simply not making a clean breakout. His anticipation in his own zone and reading opponent attackers is top notch, and he can frequently shut down plays before they begin.

Forechecking:

Reinbacher is generally a pretty conservative, stay at home defender. He uses an active stick in the neutral zone and offensive zone to knock pucks off of sticks and intercept passes and will stand up opponents, putting his big size to great use.

Defense:

Defense is Reinbacher’s bread and butter. He is fantastic in his own zone, positionally, physically and mentally. He has a fantastic stick where he can knock pucks off opponents sticks very easily and block off passes. He is a big physical player, that can clear out the front of the net easily, and get involved with puck battles on the board

Best Asset:

Reinbacher is at his best when he is stopping the opponents attackers from doing anything that they want to do. He is awesome at everything in his own zone.

Biggest Concern:

Reinbacher has some issues with decision making with the puck on his stick. He does have offensive skill, but needs to make better decisions with the puck to become a true puck moving defender.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Tier 1 - Top Pairing Defender

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

Especially if paired with an offensive defender, Reinbacher could anchor a first line, while picking up points along the way and eating a huge amount of minutes every night.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Tier 2 - Middle pairing defensive defender.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

If Reinbacher still struggles offensively and moving the puck off of his stick, he will still be a very solid shut-down defender, while not putting up very many points.

Stylistic Comparable:

Ryan McDonough as a physical, defensive defender.

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Reinbacher is a classic high floor defender. He will be a very solid NHL level defender for a long time and will eat minutes against great competition. It is just a question of if he can step up his offensive and transtional game to reach his full potential

Games Scouted:

v. Piotta, first AHL game, v. Belleville, v. Springfield