Hard to believe that we are exactly one week out from the start of the 2023 NHL Draft. What’s even harder to believe is that anyone has an idea what Steve Yzerman is going to do with his two picks on day one. Today, we’re examining a quiet candidate to land at pick nine – defenseman David Reinbacher.
Reinbacher has been likened to that of Moritz Seider, so naturally he is going to attract a lot of interest. The reality is that a defenseman like Reinbacher could go before the Wings are on the clock next Wednesday night. This guy is long, lean and has played at a high level at a young age. As pointed out by the excellent scouts at Elite Prospects, Reinbacher led his team in minutes this past season – this was in Switzerland’s top league (NL).
Low risk, high reward?
In terms of 9th overall, I consider Reinbacher fairly low risk. Between his top minutes in a tough league and tournament play, he’s on track to be an easy lock as a middle-pairing D in the NHL. I said the same thing about Moritz Seider once. Look at us now.
At six-foot-two and pushing 190 pounds, Reinbacher is already on track to have the frame for a top NHL defenseman. The 18-year-old Austrian is said to excel in “body-on-body scenarios” which would suggest he knows how to play tight and efficiently in his own zone. That’s going to make Reinbacher a first-round pick all on its own. I don’t think it’s crazy to think that he could be in the NHL by 2025. Hell, maybe sooner.
“First of all in the defensive zone he looks like he has all the control whether it’s scanning, being able to engage the physicality or getting rid of pressure from opposing players,” said Marek Novotny, a scout for Elite Prospects. When you add that he’s a right-hand shot.. Well, I start to feel more drawn to a player like Reinbacher. Just look at the tape – this guy plays like a buzzsaw in his own end.
Let’s not forget one key fact – the Wings are thin at RHD in the system. I think that if Steve Yzerman really wants to go D with his first pick, I would guess he picks Reinbacher over Axel Sandin Pellikka. He just seems to fit the mold of what this GM likes in a defenseman.
Speaking of Pellikka, make sure you read up on Riley’s analysis of taking him at ninth overall.
Riley McPherson
We mean no ‘offense’
Defense is great. Skating is good. So naturally, offense is the quietest part of Reinbacher’s game. I want to be clear though – this isn’t really a knock on him. He’s a decent enough puck-mover but the golden standard for offensive defenseman this day in age are guys like Cale Makar, Erik Karlsson, Adam Fox, Roman Josi.. yadda yadda, so on. Reinbacher had a decent stat line with EHC Kloten in the NL last season: 22 points (3-19–22) in 46 games and a pair of points in three playoff appearances. That’s nothing to be discouraged by. It’s just that everything I read about this guy is all praise for his stout defense. What I’ve watched myself aligns with what I’ve read.
The key for developing players like David Reinbacher are focusing on what matters most for his game. For him, it’s going to be about his skating. He’s already a good skater but if he can continue to get better, that’s only going to help his transition game get even better.
The Spin
Let’s follow the pattern of ‘first’ picks for Steve Yzerman so far as Red Wings GM:
- 2019: Moritz Seider (RHD)
- 2020: Lucas Raymond (F)
- 2021: Simon Edvinsson (LHD)
- 2022: Marco Kasper (F)
- 2023: hmmmmmm..
All right, I’ll admit. That’s a flimsy way of guessing what is on Steve Yzerman’s mind with the ninth pick. At least there is a pattern there. Yzerman made it clear in his pre-Draft press conference Tuesday afternoon that he intends on keeping the ninth pick, and the intention is to take the best player available at that slot. Reinbacher checks a lot of boxes and I wouldn’t be surprised if he were considered “BPA” at any pick in the top 10… and before anyone throws the idea out there, I’m not sure that Reinbacher will be on the board at pick 17.
Before we wrap this up, I need to point out that there is a connection between the team and the player. David Reinbacher idolizes a former Red Wing.
Ankit Kumar
That’s “Red Wings great Thomas Vanek” to you, Austria.
The first round of the 2023 NHL Draft gets underway on Wednesday, June 28. It will broadcast on ESPN at 7pm.
