Losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs was far from the biggest problem for the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
On top of having both Kaiden Guhle and Noah Dobson sidelined with day-to-day issues (groin), the team also lost David Reinbacher’s services once again.
Reinbacher will miss up to four weeks while dealing with a broken metacarpal bone, a fracture in one of the bones in the palm of the hand, which connects the wrist to finger bones.
It’s hard to tell exactly when Reinbacher was injured, but it may have taken place at the start of the third period, when he was shoved behind the Canadiens’ net, resulting in an awkward collision in which his hand took the brunt of the impact.
As noted by Nicolas Cloutier, Reinbacher attempted to shoot following the collision, but was unable to get any force behind the shot.
David Reinbacher chute maladroitement et s’appuie avec sa main sur un joueur des Maple Leafs en 3e période.
Lors de sa dernière présence, il ne parvient pas à décocher son tir. pic.twitter.com/SaWTLEU9is
— Nicolas Cloutier (@NCloutierTVA) September 26, 2025
It also could have taken place a few moments later, during a defensive zone presence that featured a blocked shot by Reinbacher.
CORRECTION | Voici le moment exact où David Reinbacher a subi une blessure à une main en 3e période face aux Maple Leafs. pic.twitter.com/jYWZHkYTgP
— Nicolas Cloutier (@NCloutierTVA) September 26, 2025
David Reinbacher Brass Tacks
First and foremost, it’s difficult not to feel empathy Reinbacher, as he has dealt with a frustratingly-long list of injuries before his 21st birthday. On that note, this is the third year in a row that Reinbacher will celebrate his birthday from the infirmary, a situation that will undoubtedly impact his mental health. It’s also the second year Reinbacher has been sidelined following a preseason game against the Maple Leafs.
The goal is not to be cruel, nor to bemoan the pick made in 2023.
Reinbacher should be ready to return to play by late October, and if all goes well, he will be serving as one of the Laval Rocket’s busiest defencemen to gain crucial professional experience, one area that has significantly hampered his development.
Hopefully, that will mark the end of his terrible injury luck, and finally turn the page on his tumultuous hockey career.
Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks
On the business side of things, the injury will not change much in the NHL, as it was clear that the lack of games in his D+1, and D+2 seasons meant that Reinbacher was not ready to play for the Habs.
With the acquisition of Noah Dobson, the Habs ensured they would not have to rush Reinbacher to the NHL.
However, we do have to be realistic about his potential.
Admittedly, I was never as high as some others when it came to Reinbacher’s NHL potential, and this was before the unfortunate injuries. I watched almost every game since he was drafted, and though I did think he could one day play a top four role in the NHL if he maintained an upward trajectory, I’m yet to see the skill set, not to mention the decision-making necessary to play big minutes with the Montreal Canadiens.
That’s not to say he should be written off completely, but expectations should be re-adjusted according to the reality of the situation.
If he does manage to make an impact in the NHL, all the better. If not, he will join the ranks of the many unfortunate players who had their careers sidelined significantly, robbing them of their chance to make their mark.
In the meantime, it will open the door to a few other prospects, such as Adam Engstrom, especially since the team opted to trade Logan Mailloux to the St-Louis Blues in exchange for Zachary Bolduc in the summer, banking on their depth on defence to upgrade their options up front.
It’s a good reminder that there are no guarantees in sports. A decision that was made logically, and with due diligence, can backfire spectacularly.