Controversial statement on David Reinbacher and it's concerning

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David St-Jean
May 31, 2024 (5:03 PM)

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Nearly a year after his selection at 5th overall by the Canadiens, it's still hard to see what the team and others find so exceptional in David Reinbacher.

We agree that a top 5 defenseman in a forward-heavy draft like 2023 has to be exceptionally good. He was even picked ahead of Matvei Michkov, something some fans still have on their minds.

Nonetheless, the Canadiens' management seems confident in their choice, but this isn't the case for Scott Wheeler.

In a year rich with defensemen like this one, Reinbacher wouldn't even be in the top 5 according to the journalist from The Athletic. Ouch!

Question: Hello Scott, where would you rank Reinbacher among the best defensemen in this year's draft? Last year, it seemed the Canadiens' management believed Reinbacher would be better than any of the defensemen available this year.

Answer: I prefer these five: Levshunov, Buium, Parekh, Dickinson, and Silayev. Reinbacher would be closer to where I have Yakemchuk.

Based on current lists, this means Reinbacher would be picked around 9th or 10th overall and would be, at best, the 6th defenseman in his draft class.

Wheeler went even further, saying that, barring a surprise, Reinbacher won't make the team this year.

"Hutson would be on my team. Reinbacher would start in the AHL unless he has an outstanding camp." - Scott Wheeler

It's certain that Lane Hutson is in a class of his own and immediately fills a need for the Canadiens. Reinbacher is more of a defensive defenseman with a good frame, who is tough to play against.

We'll have to see what he can do on a larger scale in North America, but in the meantime, he has shown he has some offensive skills during his time in Laval at the end of the year.