PUBLICATION
Leo Honein
September 27, 2026 (10:01 PM)
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Marco D’Amico has revealed the real reasoning behind David Reinbacher being sent down. According to him, the decision had nothing to do with Reinbacher’s performance at camp.
The Canadiens reportedly preferred Adam Engström for a limited seventh-defenseman role in the short term.
The organization would rather have Reinbacher playing major minutes in Laval, which better serves his development.
In other words, they would rather carry Adam Engström as the seventh defenseman, in a role with limited playing time, than put Reinbacher in that spot.
Kaiden Guhle is also said to be skating very well in practice, and he appears to be only a few weeks away from returning to game action.
Kaiden Guhle’s looming return changes the picture
Everything points to Guhle rejoining the lineup sooner than expected.
That explanation significantly changes my read from earlier this afternoon, when I described Reinbacher’s demotion as a major surprise and a tough decision to understand.
It would not be a negative assessment of Reinbacher’s camp, then, but more of a development-based call.
A seventh-defenseman role in Montreal would offer less value than a cornerstone role in Laval.
Guhle is still working his way back from a minor surgery he underwent this summer, but his return now appears to be getting close.
Once Guhle is back, the Canadiens would no longer have the same immediate need to carry an extra defenseman.
Kent Hughes had publicly praised Reinbacher’s excellent camp, and that message now fits much better with the organization’s decision.
Reinbacher could still be back sooner rather than later if circumstances change over the course of the season.
We will keep monitoring this closely.
Does the Canadiens’ development logic with David Reinbacher make sense to you?
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
POLL
3 HOURS AGO|123 ANSWERS
The real reason behind David Reinbacher’s demotion to Laval has now been revealed
Does this development logic for Reinbacher convince you?