Photo: Stefan Imch
We’ve looked at three forwards that the Washington Capitals could draft with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, so it’s time to take a look at one of their defensemen. First up is the Austrian defender David Reinbacher.
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David Reinbacher – (18) – 6’2″ – 187 lbs, RD, EHC Kloten (Netherlands)
There is no real consensus ranking on Reinbacher. Some mock draft picks make it into the top five, or just outside the top ten. However, he is arguably the best defender in the class of 2023.
The 18-year-old plays in the National League (NL), which is Switzerland’s premier league. This season with EHC Kloten, he tallied 22 points (three goals, 19 assists) in 46 games. Reinbacher also became the third defender in Premier League history to win the “NL Media Most Improved Player” award. It’s very impressive to play in the league against older players.
Reinbacher is a great defensive man who moves the puck and is very intelligent at his edges. He plays smart with the puck on breakout due to his high hockey IQ. The Austrian is also not afraid to be physical in the corners. Hohenems, an original, has exceptional defensive awareness and has great control of the gap.
The right back guard has the shape of a modern two-way defenseman, but there are questions as to whether or not he could be a true first defenseman in the NHL. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic said,He’s just a two-way defensive guy who’s solid and dropable.”
Despite his high hockey IQ, Reinbacher has a tendency to overcommit, especially in no-man’s land, leading to one-on-one lunges for the opponent. He’s not very strong in 50-50 fights when he doesn’t puck and occasionally misses a defensive stint.
There are a lot of positive aspects to Reinbacher being chosen by the Capitals. However, as we said in our Colby Barlow Profile, Washington should look forward to the next draft.
Reinbacher has been closely linked to the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings already have Moritz Seider as the running back and Simon Edvinson will join him soon. Reinbacher could help make their pool of defensive prospects deeper.
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Other takes:
Reinbacher’s got the pro size, coveted hands, and a really strong tools foundation that guarantee he’ll become an NHLer. I predict he’ll be the first linebacker selected when all is said and done, and it looks like he’ll make it into the top 10 (which I’m not going to scoff at). Reinbacher is a powerful forward and backhand skater (although he can seem a little stooped at times) who racks up well and defends the lunge effectively with a remarkably long stick. He looks to surrender rather than surrender to no-man’s-land, and regularly runs up to try to knock puck-carriers out of possession and force pranks (although there are times when this approach can leave him chasing if his timing is off or he’s flat-footed). he is strong. His head is always up and spinning and he does a good job of pre-clearing the ice when he returns for pucks with frequent shoulder checks.
Reinbacher has an incredibly high defensive IQ. It always finds the open man and eliminates the threat in his area. He’s strong in front of his net and forcefully takes opponents out of that high-risk area. Reinbacher makes great defensive readings and is rarely caught scrambling because he was out of position. He deals physically with opposing players but does not chase down shots that could jeopardize his defensive position.
Defensively, Reinbacher uses excellent gap control to kill offense on the rush and in one-on-one situations and his stick usage is elite. He plays well enough and sometimes struggles in international tournaments but in the league, Reinbacher isn’t afraid to use his body in puck battle situations, and as he grows as a player, I expect this is a tool we’ll increasingly see.
Other ratings
Elite Horizons: 12
Central NHL scouts: 5 (among EU skaters)
Bob McKenzie: 20
Sportsnet: 8
By Jacob Shires