Devastating blow for the Montreal Canadiens as David Reinbacher out for 6 months

The Montreal Canadiens announced that Reinbacher underwent surgery on his left knee, where he sustained an injury during Saturday's preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After taking an open ice hit, he left the game in the first period, and he was later seen using crutches.

Reinbacher was the fifth overall pick in the draft of 2023. After coming to North America from Switzerland for the Laval Rocket team last season, he finished with two goals and five points in 11 games.

The 19-year-old defenseman is still eligible to play in the NHL later this season; he is expected to return in March after a six-month absence.

Winger Patrik Laine, who was on crutches while watching the team practice on Monday, has not yet received an update from the Canadiens regarding his injury. Laine was also injured in Saturday's 2-1 loss.

The injury that Patrik Laine sustained is reportedly worse than the one that David Reinbacher suffered, according to rumors that surfaced last night. As a result, we shouldn't hold too much hope for the Habs' next medical update.

Reinbacher, who stands 6-foot-2, possesses a unique blend of physicality, skill, hockey IQ, and size. The team is confident in the selection even after Reinbacher received a lot of flak during the 2023 NHL Draft. Since then, they have added players like Ivan Demidov to their prospect group; if all of them can live up to the excitement in Montreal, they will be one step closer to finishing their rebuild.

Many think that Reinbacher has the potential to be a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL, but the team will now need to be even more understanding while he recovers from this injury. Although he might return in five to six months, it might take much longer for him to reach 100% and continue to develop.