2023-06-29 00:01:44
For David Reinbacher, the dream of the National Hockey League (NHL) leads via Montreal. The Montreal Canadiens secured the rights to the 18-year-old Vorarlberger in the NHL draft in Nashville on Thursday night. Reinbacher was chosen number five by the NHL record champions and thus as high as Thomas Vanek in 2003. He was the first defender in this year’s draft in the strongest ice hockey league in the world.
Reinbacher is only the fifth Austrian first-round draft and was chosen as early as Vanek, who ended his career in February 2020 after more than 1,000 NHL games. Marco Kasper 2022 (No. 8, Detroit Red Wings), Marco Rossi 2020 (No. 9, Minnesota Wild) and Michael Grabner 2006 (No. 14, Vancouver Canucks) came in later.
The Vorarlberger landed at one of the most glamorous clubs in the league, the decision was announced by starting goalkeeper Carey Price with a stumbling on the surname. The Canadiens are 24-time NHL champions, making them the most successful franchise in the league. However, they have been waiting for their 25th triumph since 1993 and, after finishing last in the 2021/22 season and 28th in the past year, are in transition under the direction of General Manager Kent Hughes. The head coach of the young team around the 23-year-old captain Nick Suzuki is Martin St. Louis, on the defensive there are currently only four professionals over 25 years old. “Our scouts loved Reinbacher from the start and his development throughout the year,” said Hughes.
Reinbacher has been playing for Swiss clubs since he was seven – first in Widnau, where he commuted to, and from the age of 13 at the traditional club EHC Kloten. The 1.89 m tall Lustenauer earned himself a regular place with the promoted team last season, received the second most ice time of all defenders and recorded 24 points in 49 games in a sovereign relegation. His strong performances also helped him to make his debut in the Austrian national team, with which he managed to stay up at the World Championships in Tampere, and now to a promising future in the motherland of ice hockey.
“Hello, my name is David,” Reinbacher greeted the Canadiens fans in French and continued in English: “I can’t wait to come back to Montreal, I’ve been there before”. However, it is quite possible that Reinbacher will play another season in Kloten, the decision will be made in consultation with his new club.
The Canadiens drafted an Austrian for the fourth time and currently hold the rights to two Vorarlberg talents after striker Vinzenz Rohrer was chosen as number 75 last year. As the only red-white-red legionnaire to date, Vanek played for Montreal from March to May 2014 and advanced to the finals of the Eastern Conference with the Canadiens.
As expected, the Chicago Blackhawks, who had first pick, opted for Canadian center Connor Bedard. The Anaheim Ducks then chose Leo Carlsson of Sweden, the Columbus Blue Jackets chose Adam Fantilli from the USA as number three, and the San Jose Sharks then chose Will Smith as number four. The draft, in which the 32 NHL clubs secure the rights to 224 talents worldwide, continues on Thursday (5:00 p.m. CEST) with rounds two to seven.
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