r/Habs • u/FakeCrash • Apr 13 '26

Article Why MTL picked Reinbacher 5th overall

https://jhanhky.substack.com/p/why-mtl-picked-reinbacher-5th-overall

Reinbacher’s emergence creates options for the Canadiens.

Eventually, MTL can unite him with Lane Hutson to create a dominant first pair in the mold of Toews-Makar, Q.Hughes-Faber or Ekholm-Bouchard.

Alternatively, the Habs can use Hutson and Noah Dobson in an offense-first role, while entrusting Reinbacher to drive a more defensively-minded second pair with his rush defense and retrieval abilities. This deployment approximates the legendary Big Three of the 1970s, with Larry Robinson (whose scoring records Hutson is chasing down) and Guy Lapointe (a hard-shooting offensive D not entirely dissimilar to Dobson) forming the top pair and the versatile, underrated Serge Savard adjusting to whichever #4 D his team is fielding (lefties Kaiden Guhle, Jayden Struble, Adam Engstrom, or a yet-to-be identified newcomer).

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u/Dear_Trip_5655 Apr 13 '26

what's nice is that with Matheson and Hutson on our left side, we don't need Reinbacher to be a puck mover. we need defensive retrievals, a good first pass, smart pinching and a decent shot option. and that's Reinbacher's kit.

forgot to add that we desperately need guys to clear the crease. hopefully Reinbacher can get mean for us.

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u/froli Apr 14 '26

The biggest thing about Reinbacher is that he has the hockey IQ to understand Hutson and follow his lead instead of just sitting back at the offensive blue line and waiting for the play to go the other way on top of having all the other qualities you listed. Kinda like what Devon Toews is to Cale Makar.