David Reinbacher’s 2025-26 season with the Laval Rocket has been anything but linear. There have been ups, downs, flashes of what made him a top-five pick, and stretches where his impact felt more subtle than spectacular. But if there is one word that best defines his season, it’s development. Not production, not dominance, development. Given where Reinbacher was just a year ago, that alone matters.
A Season of Learning in Laval
On paper, Reinbacher’s numbers are modest. Through 33 games, the 21-year-old defenceman has recorded four goals and ten assists. That level of offensive output won’t turn heads, but it was never expected to. Reinbacher was drafted for his defensive awareness, his poise under pressure, and his ability to play reliable, structured minutes against quality competition.
The real positive this season has been his health. Injuries slowed his progression in recent years, interrupting both his rhythm and confidence. Staying healthy for an extended stretch has allowed him to finally string together games.
David Reinbacher, Montreal Canadiens (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)
That said, Reinbacher has not emerged as the clear defensive anchor in Laval the way some expected. Following Logan Mailloux’s trade this summer to the St. Louis Blues, the door appeared open for Reinbacher to take over as the Rocket’s number-one defenceman. Instead, it has been Adam Engström who has seized that role, playing heavier minutes and asserting himself as the most reliable presence on the blue line.
Reinbacher hasn’t been bad, far from it, but he also hasn’t imposed himself consistently. His reads are generally sound, his positioning is solid, but the assertiveness and game-to-game dominance you want to see from a top prospect are still developing.
Expectations Were Simply Higher
Fair or not, expectations follow draft position. As the fifth overall pick in 2023, Reinbacher entered the organization labeled as a safe prospect, a defenceman with a high floor, NHL size, and pro habits. Two and a half years later, that label is being questioned.
Reinbacher is now the only player selected in the top ten of that draft class who has yet to appear in an NHL game. That fact alone fuels disappointment among fans, especially when other players from the same draft are already contributing at the highest level.
At the time of the draft, Reinbacher was seen as closer to NHL-ready than most. Injuries have played a role in slowing his path, but even accounting for that, the progression hasn’t been as quick as anticipated. He doesn’t look like a player knocking on the NHL door, and that reality clashes with what many expected from such a high selection.
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Still, development is not always linear, especially for defencemen. Reinbacher’s game relies on anticipation, structure, and timing more than raw tools. Those elements often take longer to translate, particularly in a system where mistakes are punished quickly.
Another Year in Laval May Be the Right Call
Looking ahead to 2026-27, another full season in Laval appears increasingly likely, and perhaps necessary. Montreal’s NHL blue line remains crowded. The core is set with players like Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Kaiden Guhle, and Mike Matheson still under contract. On top of that, Jayden Struble, Alexandre Carrier and Arber Xhekaj continue to occupy depth roles, while Engström is pushing hard for his own opportunity.
There simply isn’t a clear opening for Reinbacher to step into without forcing the issue. And forcing it could do more harm than good. A second full American Hockey League (AHL) season would allow Reinbacher to take the next step at his own pace, earning tougher matchups, killing penalties, and ideally becoming the defensive reference point in Laval. That’s the role he needs to grow into before making the jump.
Reinbacher’s development isn’t a failure, but it’s also not ahead of schedule. The Canadiens will need patience, restraint, and a clear plan. If Reinbacher eventually becomes the calm, reliable, right-shot defenceman they envisioned, the wait will be worth it. But for now, his season is best viewed not through the lens of disappointment, but as part of a longer, and still unfinished, process.
