Canadiens prime protection prospect David Reinbacher will miss a lot of the 2024-25 season after present process surgical procedure on his left knee Tuesday morning, the crew announced. He’s anticipated to return to play in 5 to 6 months.
It’s doubtless worse information than Habs followers anticipated after Reinbacher sustained the harm throughout the first interval of Saturday’s preseason loss to the Maple Leafs. After he was on the receiving finish of successful from Toronto defenseman Marshall Rifai, he fell awkwardly into the boards between the benches, touchdown awkwardly on his left leg. He was in a position to get off the ice below his personal energy however was in seen ache.
Montreal didn’t disclose the specifics of Reinbacher’s knee harm. Additionally it is ready on official information concerning a return-to-play timeline for top-six winger Patrik Laine, who additionally sustained an harm later within the first in opposition to the Leafs after a knee-on-knee hit from Toronto depth ahead Cédric Paré. He’s additionally likely looking at a long-term absence.
Reinbacher, 20 later this month, was the fifth total decide within the 2023 draft. He spent his 2023-24 season on mortgage to Switzerland’s EHC Kloten, the place his all-around numbers took a step again from his draft 12 months. He managed a purpose and 10 assists with a -15 score in 35 video games after posting 22 factors and a +7 score in 46 video games for Kloten in 2022-23. He ended the season with a powerful stretch of play with AHL Laval, although, logging 5 factors and a +6 score in 11 appearances.
He would have been trying to make his NHL debut in 2024-25, probably on opening evening, if he may have completed coaching camp on a excessive notice. His season debut will now have to attend till at the least early March, nevertheless, and it’s doubtless that he’ll spend his transient enjoying time this 12 months again in Laval whereas getting again in control in his improvement. The Habs will probably be out one in all their most intriguing prospects for a lot of the marketing campaign, nevertheless it does imply much less competitors for taking part in time for different younger defenders like Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux and Jayden Struble.
Since Reinbacher didn’t log any days on the NHL roster final season, he’ll carry a $0 cap hit whereas on season-opening injured reserve. Nonetheless, he’ll nonetheless accumulate his prorated $855K base wage as scheduled.
