David Reinbacher Has A Lot Of Suitors

David Reinbacher is a talented defenseman who could be a top-10 pick but that’s not where I would have him. I’ll explain why.

There’s a lot of talent here, but in an offensive league, I don’t think there’s enough offensive talent to justify a top-10 pick. That doesn’t mean a team won’t do it. They just might.

At 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, the first thing you notice about this talented blueliner is his defensive play. There’s a lot to like there, and his excellent skating is only a part of the reason. This Austrian wins puck battles. That’s obvious when you watch him, and according to InStat, he’s winning 55% of them this season. That is playing against men, so that’s a big plus for him.

Reinbacher can handle hard minutes. He was at 18:17 this season. He did get quite a bit of power play time and a smidge on the penalty kill. There’s only so much you can play him, and that will be the battle down the road.

Figuring out what Reinbacher will be is the trick. I have him ranked as the third-best defenseman because his offense is good, but not great. I think he can be a 35–40-point guy, and combined with his solid defense and the physicality he brings and will bring, I see him as a second-paring defenseman. He is a lock for that. That’s a hard position to nail down at the NHL level for sure.

Reinbacher has a very good one-timer. He knows when to pinch, and will get some points that way. But to draft him in the top 10 doesn’t work for me because he may not be a top-pairing guy. Now, in that 10-15 slot makes sense. If the forward group wasn’t so strong in the upper part of this draft, maybe I would feel differently.

Around Full Press Hockey

NHL: Arizona Coyotes New Arena Approaches Fateful Vote

NHL:  NHL All-Star Game Thoughts and Possible Changes

NFL: What Eddie Robinson Told Doug Williams After He Made History 35 Years Ago

Full Press Bets:  The Five Most Intriguing NFL Schedules for 2023

PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly Ep 55: Stanley Cup Playoffs, Road Warriors, and More

WANT MORE PODCASTS? Check Out Some Of The Latest From Around The FPC Network

I like Reinbacher’s first pass a lot. I think his hockey I.Q. is excellent. His willingness to block shots is great because if he’s going to be a player you have out late in the game to protect a lead, then that’s part of his job, and he does it very well. I would trust Reinbacher even at this young age in the AHL. I wouldn’t want to plunge him into the NHL.

This player can make a jump with elite training methods and be provided the time to get stronger. You can’t do that in the NHL. A full season in the AHL and then another big offseason, and then let’s see the gains.

You are drafting this guy to help your blueline in the future. You’re not doing it for today.