Canadiens select defenseman David Reinbacher with No. 5 overall pick in 2023 NHL Draft

The Montreal Canadiens have selected defenseman David Reinbacher with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

The Austrian spent most of his season with EHC Kloten in the National League, where he had three goals, 19 assists and 22 points in 46 regular-season games, along with a goal, an assist and two points in three playoff games. He also played for the Austrian international team at both the U20 World Juniors, where he had two assists in five games; and at the World Championship, where he had an assist in four games.

Daily Faceoff’s own prospect expert Steven Ellis projected Reinbacher to go seventh overall in his mock draft of the 2023 NHL Draft. He considered Reinbacher to be one of the biggest risers during the 2022-23 season after playing key minutes in one of the best European pro hockey leagues. Reinbacher was selected fifth overall.

Ellis had this to say about him in his prospect rankings:

“Not many people had Reinbacher as a first-round pick heading into the season. Now, most have Reinbacher as the best defenseman in the class. He put up excellent numbers in the top Swiss league, a division that hasn’t always been kind to younger blueliners. Reinbacher looked mature beyond his years and could immediately jump over and make an impact in the AHL next season if that ends up being the plan.”

The Canadiens finished with a 31-45-6 record in the 2022-23 season, giving them 68 points which was good enough for eighth in the Atlantic Division and 28th in the league. They missed the playoffs as a result, the second consecutive season that they did so.