Playing career
As a youth, Reinbacher played in Switzerland with EHC Rheintal and EHC Bülach, before moving to EHC Kloten at the U15 level. Initially appearing within the team's junior ranks, he made his professional debut with the club in the Swiss League (SL), the second tier of the Swiss league system, midway through the 2021–22 season. Reinbacher managed one goal and 10 assists in 27 regular season appearances. [3] He then played in 14 postseason games, which culminated in Kloten securing promotion to the National League (NL), Switzerland's top league. [4] [3]
In the 2022–23 season, Reinbacher established himself a regular on Kloten's blueline, attracting attention for doing so as an 18-year-old player, and seeing his average ice time rise from six minutes per game to over 20. He recorded three goals and 19 assists in 46 games during the regular season, and two further points in three postseason games. [4] He would go on to win the league's award for the best young player of the year. [5]
Reinbacher initially had a low profile among evaluators prior to the 2023 NHL entry draft, with some European evaluators identifying him as a potential second-round selection. [6] By November 2022, he was receiving attention from major North American publications, with The Hockey News naming him to their "All-Sleeper Squad" of players who should be considered for the first round. [7] At the time of the draft in June, Reinbacher was mooted as a top ten selection by many, and generally considered likely to be the first defenceman taken during proceedings. [8] [9] [10] [11] Ultimately, he was selected fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens, with team general manager Kent Hughes describing him as "a diamond in the rough with a lot of potential." [1] This made Reinbacher the highest-drafted Austrian skater in NHL history, alongside Thomas Vanek, who was also drafted fifth overall 20 years earlier. [4] The Canadiens' decision was controversial due to their passing over Matvei Michkov, considered by many to be the most talented player still available at the time, who was subsequently taken by the Philadelphia Flyers. Criticism on social media attracted sports media coverage, notably due to reported abusive messages directed at Reinbacher himself. [12] [13] [14] [15]
On 5 July 2023, the Canadiens signed Reinbacher to a three-year, entry-level contract. [16] [17] After what was generally considered a positive appearance at the Canadiens' training camp in the autumn of 2023, he was sent back to EHC Kloten for the 2023–24 NL season. [18] [19] In the midst of a difficult campaign for the team overall, Reinbacher produced one goal and ten assists in 35 appearances, having missed sporadic time due to injury. [20] Following the end of the NL schedule, he was assigned to the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, on 18 March 2024. [21] He made his AHL debut thereafter on 22 March in a 3–2 overtime win versus the Belleville Senators, recording a goal. [22] In eleven games with Laval, he registered two goals and three assists along with a plus–minus differential of +6. [23]
While competing with the Canadiens in exhibition play against the Toronto Maple Leafs on 28 September 2024, Reinbacher exited the game after a hit by Leafs defenceman Marshall Rifai. Days later, it was announced that he had undergone knee surgery, and would miss five-to-six months of the 2024–25 season. [24] He would make his season debut with the Rocket on 19 February 2025 versus the Manitoba Moose. [25]
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