Managing a prospect by way of his improvement isn’t a straight ahead technique. Every participant is totally different. Defencemen and goalies traditionally have taken longer to develop in comparison with forwards.
Participant improvement just isn’t a precise science and each workforce has its personal course of. Some golf equipment have had extra success than others, however constructive outcomes finally come right down to the participant’s buy-in mixed with a constant message from the NHL workforce.
Years in the past, once I began my NHL profession scouting for the Nashville Predators, our GM, David Poile, most well-liked that our prospects spend time within the AHL. Among the names that developed taking part in in Milwaukee for the Admirals, included Shea Weber, Patric Hornqvist, Roman Josi and Pekka Rinne.
Quick ahead to my time with the Florida Panthers, the place I labored with GM Dale Tallon. Dale was the primary ever Vancouver Canucks draft decide, going second general in 1970. One in all my takeaways from Dale, from a participant improvement perspective, was his view that it takes defencemen no less than two full seasons within the NHL earlier than they’re utterly snug. It’s a course of that entails endurance.
Which brings me to Montreal Canadiens prospect David Reinbacher, who will be a part of the AHL’s Laval Rocket.
Reinbacher was chosen fifth general in final yr’s draft. He’s a 6-foot-2, 194-pound, proper shot defenceman. Reinbacher lately accomplished his second yr taking part in for Kloten within the Swiss Nationwide League, however his season was shortened attributable to an early damage that stored him out of the lineup for an extended stretch. Reinbacher ended up producing one purpose, 10 assists and a minus-15 in 35 video games.
In comparison with final season, when he scored three targets, 19 assists and was a plus-7 in 46 video games, Reinbacher took a step again statistically.
I’ve been listening to some concern about this coming from Canadiens followers. With Reinbacher now arriving in North America to swimsuit up for the Rocket, I believed I’d take a second to current my observations on the state of his sport and attempt to separate truth from fiction.
After breaking down a number of of Reinbacher’s video games in Switzerland this season, right here’s what I’ve concluded:
THIS YEAR’S STATS IN CONTEXT
• The very first thing everybody ought to pay attention to is that Kloten as a workforce had a down yr, to say the least. Final season Kloten completed with a file of 24-22-3-3 file, and ninth general with 73 factors. This season, Kloten struggled to a thirteenth place end with a file of 12-29-5-6 and 52 factors.
• Reinbacher logged between 19 and 21 minutes of ice time. He was utilized in a wide range of roles all through the season together with even power, penalty kill, energy play, and 4-on-4.
• Kloten, as a workforce, had a tough time producing offence this season. Jonathan Ang was their main scorer with 11 targets and 18 assists in 52 video games. For perspective, Ang additionally led the membership in scoring final season with 20 targets and 29 assists.
• Reinbacher averaged .49 factors per sport final season, however that dropped to .32 this season, which traces up with the shortage of offence from the entire workforce.
SCOUTING REPORT AND OBSERVATIONS
Right here’s my pre-draft scouting report on Reinbacher from final June:
“Extremely coveted proper shot defenceman who has the talent set to be deployed in a wide range of roles. Brings measurement and talent. Lively taking away time and area along with his attain and stature. Jumps to the half wall to kill performs on the PK. Occasions his gaps properly defending his blue line. Like several younger defenceman he has room to enhance his angling and recoveries when pucks spill previous him down the boards. Leans distributor greater than shooter on the ability play, however has a heavy shot that may beat goalies from distance. Shoots rapidly and precisely. Excessive finish IQ. NHL prime pairing defenceman is feasible in time.“
And this was my commentary from his first coaching camp with Montreal final fall:
“His first NHL coaching camp went in addition to could possibly be anticipated. Didn’t look misplaced on the smaller ice. Performed to his identification. Sound three zone consciousness. Sees the ice. Absorbed contact to make performs and retailers. Pinched down appropriately within the offensive zone. Dimension and size is an asset. Usually retains opponents to the perimeter. Massive, robust and good. Has time on his facet since Montreal has depth on the defence place with its prospects. Needs to be utilized in all conditions once more with Kloten within the Swiss Nationwide League. High pairing NHL upside continues to be potential in time.”
Right here’s a spotlight from Reinbacher’s pre-season sport versus New Jersey final fall. It’s a easy instance of his offensive zone imaginative and prescient and playmaking skill:
WHAT TO EXPECT IN LAVAL
Reinbacher will take a while to regulate to the smaller ice in North America and will probably be most evident within the defensive zone. With much less area to function, performs develop a lot faster on the AHL and NHL ranges. He shall be examined defensively, however he has the scale and size to kill performs alongside the boards and maintain opponents to the perimeter. His hole management shall be one thing monitor when opponents are attacking his zone with pace by way of the impartial zone. He should play extra aggressively, sooner, within the AHL.
Offensively, I anticipate Reinbacher to benefit from time and area when it’s accessible. He has nice ft, which brings alternative to flee his zone with the puck on his stick or be a part of the frenzy as an additional layer. When his group works off the cycle within the offensive zone, low to excessive, he’ll direct pucks on internet rapidly and precisely.
To indicate you the way I’m coming to a few of my conclusions on the place Reinbacher is in his improvement, I’ll share just a few clips right here and clarify the sequences I’m seeing.
These first two clips are examples of what Reinbacher wants to enhance on as he works in the direction of being an NHL defenceman:
• Within the first clip he’s far too passive in his defensive zone. He doesn’t entrance his test and assert himself with correct physique positioning.
• Within the second clip I would favor Reinbacher to hole up and take away the zone entry sooner. He does alter properly, nonetheless, by boxing out his test under the purpose line earlier than transferring him up the boards and out of hazard. As soon as the puck is turned over, Reinbacher does what he does greatest and takes benefit of open area to steer the escape on his personal, leading to an offensive zone entry for his group.
The subsequent three clips show Reinbacher’s skating, playmaking, and taking pictures skill:
• This subsequent clip reveals Reinbacher main a zone entry, dropping a move to his assist ahead, then making a play from under the offensive purpose line by absorbing contact, distributing and heading to the web:
• And right here is one other instance of Reinbacher recognizing his ahead has management of the puck in his personal zone. He joins the frenzy as an additional layer, leading to a top quality scoring probability:
• The ultimate clip is straightforward, however vital. Reinbacher identifies a possibility to direct a puck on internet from distance within the offensive zone. He units himself and shoots the puck exhausting and precisely by way of a display screen. His fast launch doesn’t enable his opponent to entrance him to dam his shot.
FORECAST
I nonetheless consider Reinbacher has the upside of in the future difficult for a top-pairing function and the potential to grow to be a two-way, transitional NHL defenceman. However we now have to do not forget that it’s going to take time, maybe a pair years, earlier than he settles in to the North American sport. However he has all of the instruments and let’s additionally not overlook he’s a coveted proper shot defender.
For all of the Canadiens followers who’re frightened that Reinbacher took a step again this yr, my recommendation is to take a pause and never over-react to the place he’s in his improvement. Reinbacher, like all prospects, simply wants time.
