There was a good chance Montreal Canadiens top defense prospect David Reinbacher was going to end up for extra development time with the Laval Rocket in the AHL this season. Unfortunately, his arrival back in Laval is going to be delayed significantly.

• Subscribe To FloHockey To Watch AHL This Season
• AHL, FloSports Announce Multi-Year Extension Bringing AHLTV To FloHockey
• More AHL Hockey News

The Canadiens announced Tuesday that Reinbacher underwent surgery on his left knee with a rehabilitation period of five to six months. That puts him out until well into the second half of the year, but leaves time for him to return to the Rocket and get back on track.

This was due to be Reinbacher’s first full-time pro season in North America. He played 11 games with Laval last season after 35 games with Swiss pro club Kloten. The Austrian teenager posted five points in his late-season run in the AHL, which set him up well for being prepared for this season.

Reinbacher, who was picked fifth overall by Montreal in the 2023 NHL Draft, was injured in a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in NHL preseason action over the weekend, the same night star forward Patrik Laine went down with a knee injury of his own.

The timing is difficult for Reinbacher, who is just shy of his 20th birthday. This is a critical year for his development as his NHL timeline didn’t look particularly long. The 6-foot-2, right-shot blueliner is among the top defense prospects in hockey, but this will certainly be a setback to miss so much time at this early stage of his development as a professional in North America.

The fact that this is not a season-ending injury, or at least doesn’t appear to be, leaves enough time for him to get back on his game around the same time he arrived in Laval last season, if not a little sooner. Hopefully there is enough runway for Reinbacher to get some good AHL minutes to build his opportunity to challenge for an NHL roster spot next season.

How To Watch The AHL On FloHockey 

The AHL is streaming on FloHockey and the FloSports app. Live games, replays, highlights and breaking news also will be available on both platforms. 

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

How To Stream Laval Rocket Hockey Games During The 2024-2025 Season

Every AHL hockey game will stream live on FloHockey and the FloSports app. Game replays, highlights and breaking news also will be available on both platforms.

Laval Rocket Hockey Schedule 2024-2025

See the complete schedule on the Laval Rocket team page on FloHockey.

Watch ECHL, USHL, AHL And More On FloHockey

FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.

Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social

• Follow us on Twitter @FloHockey
• Follow us on Instagram @flohockey
• Follow us on TikTok @flohockeytv
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook