NEWS
Reinbacher doesn't make NHL cut
After a strong preseason, David Reinbacher had reasonable hopes for an NHL roster spot. However, Montreal is sending him to their farm team.
David Reinbacher will start the new season in the American Hockey League.
The Vorarlberg native was sent to the farm team in Laval by the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday evening. Following their final preseason games on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators, the Canadiens sent a total of 19 players to the Rockets.
The 21-year-old Reinbacher had spent the entire preseason with the Canadiens. After strong performances, the defenseman had reason to believe he could secure an NHL spot, especially since regular defenseman Kaiden Guhle is likely to miss the start of the season.
Ultimately, however, the Hohenems native did not make the cut. The Canadiens' roster currently features eight defensemen: Noah Dobson, Adam Engström, Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Alexandre Carrier, Arber Xhekaj, and Jayden Struble.
NHL Debut in April
Last April, Reinbacher made his NHL debut against the New York Islanders, followed by another appearance two days later against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Apart from his first two NHL appearances, the defenseman played exclusively in Laval during the most recent season, where he appeared in 61 games. He registered 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) there.
Montreal kicks off the new NHL season on Wednesday night with an away game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Laval will play its opening game on Saturday night against the Syracuse Crunch.
