Montreal Canadiens sign former defenseman following horrible injury David Reinbacher

General manager Kent Hughes of the Montreal Canadiens said on Wednesday that the team and defenseman Gustav Lindström had reached an agreement on a one-year, two-way contract.

The Montreal Canadiens had a disastrous preseason as they lost Patrik Laine from for several months due to injury, and they also lost prospect David Reinbacher, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft, to a horrific knee injury.

This significantly alters their expectations for the 2024-2025 season, as the team was hopeful that, despite still being in the midst of a rebuild, they might make a run for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Although it seems they will try to find Patrik Laine's replacement internally, they have already moved to replace Reinbacher with the news that Kent Hughes is bringing in defenseman Gustav Lindstrom, who was a member of the team the previous season.

The organization immediately declared that they had placed him on waivers in order to loan him to the Rocket after verifying the signature.

In 46 games with the Canadiens and the Anaheim Ducks in 2023-24, 25-year-old Lindstrom recorded 10 points (3G, 7A) and a plus-12 differential. The native of Ostervala, Sweden also participated in four AHL games with the Laval Rocket last year.

With the Detroit Red Wings, Canadiens, and Ducks in 174 NHL games, Lindstrom has accrued 80 penalty minutes and 35 points (5G, 30A).

It would be a disappointing development for the Canadiens to have to wait until tomorrow to find out if a team chooses to claim the player. All eyes will be on their home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight in the interim.