David Reinbacher
Reinbacher enters the 2026-27 season as a legitimate opening-night roster candidate for the first time, with a defensive-zone injury to Kaiden Guhle clearing a real path onto Montreal's blue line rather than another season strictly in the AHL.
Role
Per Daily Faceoff and beat coverage of the preseason (Habs Eyes on the Prize, Sportsnaut, The Hockey News, checked around September 22 to 25), Reinbacher has been paired with Adam Engstrom in one exhibition game and with Lane Hutson in the Kraft Hockeyville exhibition in Trois-Rivieres against Ottawa. He is one of three or four players (also including Maksymilian Szuber, Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble) competing for the extra blue-line spots opened up by Guhle's absence, reported to be roughly two to three weeks at the start of the regular season. No power-play unit assignment for Reinbacher has been reported. This is preseason/exhibition usage only, not a confirmed regular-season role.
Habs Eyes on the Prize (September 22) described Reinbacher as the most poised defenseman in the position battle, and Hockey News and Hockeybuzz reporting frames Guhle's injury as an opportunity that could put the 21-year-old in Montreal's lineup for opening night rather than back in Laval.
Reinbacher has a lengthy injury history that has repeatedly interrupted his development and full training camps in past seasons (Sportsnaut, September), and even optimistic reporters note the Canadiens have a genuine logjam on defense, meaning a roster spot now is not the same as a role once Guhle returns healthy.
Where analysts split
Analysts agree Reinbacher has looked good in the two preseason games reported so far, but the open question is whether he sticks in Montreal once Kaiden Guhle returns from injury in a few weeks, or whether this is a short-term opportunity that ends with a trip back to AHL Laval; several outlets frame the current blue-line logjam as making that outcome uncertain rather than settled.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at D
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