Canadiens’ Reinbacher Now Under the Gun with Konyushkov Signing

So, to a degree, Reinbacher is still in charge of his own destiny. However, consider the recent depth signings of fellow-righties Ethan Sampson and Reilly Walsh, the draft selections of Timofei Runtso and Cooper Cleaves a few weeks ago (with the Canadiens’ second and third picks) and the emergence of 20-year-old Bryce Pickford, who is coming off a historical Canadian Hockey League Defenseman of the Year Award-winning season.

Granted, Pickford, who the Canadiens picked at No. 81 in 2025, accomplished the feat after somehow playing through a shoulder injury that required recent offseason surgery. So, the Habs’ newfound depth on the right side isn’t all sunshine and lollipops, but it is reassuring. In contrast it should be cause for concern for Reinbacher, who, to his credit, did make some headway by getting in his first two NHL games this past season, dressing for the last two after Noah Dobson broke his thumb in Game 80. It’s nevertheless interesting that the Habs opted not to play Reinbacher at all in the playoffs before Dobson’s return in Game 7 of Round 1.

Canadiens Committed to Reinbacher (Reportedly)

Seeing as they defied all expectations to make it all the way to Round 3, it’s not so much that it was the right decision or that playing Reinbacher would have been a deathly mistake. It’s instead that the Canadiens have a good handle on their limitations and those of their individual players/prospects. If they decided to play a left-handed defenseman on the right side those six games instead of entrusting Reinbacher with at least some minutes each game, it’s because they felt that gave them a better chance of success. All of this is quite telling regarding how he’s perceived within the organization, even amid reports the Habs are committed to him and his ongoing development and they’re hoping he earns a roster spot in training camp this fall.

According to those reports from TVA journalist Anthony Martineau, there will be a spot for Reinbacher to “win.” However, that’s not exactly the same as there being a spot for him to lose. That hypothetical mindset is understandable considering how much the young Austrian still has to prove following three straight seasons defined largely by injury after getting drafted, the last two with injuries actually sustained in the NHL preseason. Of the first 17 picks in 2023, he has played the fewest NHL games so far, with the next-lowest in the Top 10 being the only other defenseman, Dmitry Simashev of the now-Utah Mammoth, who was picked right after him (28).

At least there should be limited buyer’s remorse on the part of the Canadiens, seeing as it’s clear they wanted a defenseman and a right-shot one at that. Simashev shoots left. In hindsight, Tom Willander of the Vancouver Canucks (No. 11), who does shoot right, may have been a better pick, as he’s found much more success so far, but neither he nor any of the others taken that first round (Axel Sandin-Pellikka at No. 17, Oliver Bonk at No. 22) had the same projected all-around skillset paired with Reinbacher’s size and strength teams covet in a rearguard.

Konyushkov Coming to North America in 2027

Of course, Reinbacher was also seen as the most NHL-ready defenseman of his class. Of the bunch, he’s had the least NHL experience and overall success. So, clearly, drafting is an inexact science, with Konyushkov (No. 110) now having a chance to effectively lap Reinbacher too. It’s not a huge chance, as the Russian will be loaned to his Kontinental Hockey League team for 2026-27 before presumably making his way to North America at the end of his season overseas.

Again, they’re far from carbon copies of one another in terms of the skills they bring to the table. However, it’s at least reasonable to expect Konyushkov, who’s just about two years older and has previously captained Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo in the KHL, to have the physical and emotional maturity to get in NHL games right away. While the two years’ difference in age might speak to how much more patience the Canadiens should have for Reinbacher to develop into an NHL regular, it’s incredibly fair to say he hasn’t met expectations so far.

Expectations as a result have shifted, but standards haven’t. If he makes the team next fall, and that should be the hope, you can be reasonably certain he’ll have earned it. No one’s handing him anything on a silver platter because of his draft pedigree, even if he is finally healthy (*knock on wood*). This piece is all about the contingencies the Canadiens have in place if he doesn’t make it.

Even if by having drafted him, Konyushkov was technically already in their plans, but he is one such contingency. Lefthanded-prospect Adam Engstrom, a 2022 pick who can play on the right, got in 15 games last season. He’s another. By virtue of having consciously gone with a single right-handed shot through the first six games of Round 1 this spring, they don’t necessarily need Reinbacher. However, with that one defenseman (Alexandre Carrier)’s contract coming due next summer, the Canadiens would obviously love as many options as possible.  On paper, a healthy Reinbacher still remains the best. It’s up to him show as much on the ice. The time is now.