(Laval) The upcoming arrival of David Reinbacher with the Laval Rocket has not yet been confirmed, but it is already making people happy…
David Reinbacher’s Swiss season ended on Friday afternoon; the promising defender can now join the Canadian organization to finish the season.
In all likelihood, the 5e 2023 draft selection is expected to join the Rocket in the coming days. The club immediately published a mysterious message on its social networks on Friday, when the fate of EHC Kloten had just been sealed. “We don’t know when, but as soon as we know, you’ll know,” the team wrote with a wink and a flag of Austria, Reinbacher’s country of origin.
After his team’s 3-1 victory against the Bridgeport Islanders on Friday evening, head coach Jean-François Houle said he “hoped” that the defender would come to Laval.
“We don’t know yet, but if he comes to us, we will definitely use him,” he continued. He did well in rookie camp. He is a big right-handed defenseman who is capable of skating and making good zone exits. We’re going to take our time with him. »
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Jean-François Houle behind the Rocket bench on March 13.
If he shows up here, we will try to put him in situations where he can be successful.
Jean-François Houle on David Reinbacher
The entry of a player into the lineup also means the exit of another player. Asked how he intends to manage the arrival of the young prospect, while his team is winning and his defenders are doing well, the pilot preferred to avoid the question.
“We’ll deal with that when we cross that path!” he said, laughing. In the American League, everything happens at the last minute. »
“We have two days to think about what we can do, so we will wait until the last minute,” he added, thus implying that Reinbacher will arrive on Monday.
More generally, Houle said of the players who will arrive from the NCAA or Europe in the coming weeks that they must above all “get comfortable” with the team.
“I think we have good leaders in the room who will welcome them with open arms. They are here to learn. […] We have several development instructors who will be around the team for a long time, especially if we have several players. I think it’s good for them to just dip their toe into professional hockey. »
During a visit by colleague Guillaume Lefrançois to Switzerland in October, Reinbacher claimed to have kept in touch with three players in the Canadian organization since the last camp: “Sean Farrell, Logan Mailloux and Filip Mesar”.
We therefore questioned one of them, Mailloux. If the Rocket’s most productive defender this season mentioned having “just a little, but not really” kept in touch with Reinbacher, he affirmed that the latter’s arrival could only be positive.
“It’s a 5e choice in total. He’s a big defender, he skates well, moves well and defends well. So if he can help us in the series, it would be a great gift for us. »
A good first
Friday was premiere night for Arnaud Durandeau in the Laval uniform. The Beaconsfield native, acquired Monday in a minor trade with the New Jersey Devils, was paired with Philippe Maillet and Lias Andersson on the second line.
In addition to getting good scoring opportunities, Durandeau created plays for his teammates. In the middle of the second period, after recovering the puck behind the opposing goal, he served a perfect pass which allowed Philippe Maillet to score his 17e of the season.
“I was just excited,” said the main interested party. It was in front of my family, a new team, in Montreal. I wanted to have a good first impression. We got the victory, I’m happy. »
If the Quebecer is not the most expressive, he seemed overall satisfied with this first impression. “I think I played well,” he summed up. And his coach agreed: “He played very well tonight, I liked that trio,” said Houle.
Durandeau is having a season full of twists and turns, having been traded twice in recent months. After four years with the organization that drafted him, the New York Islanders, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in November. He played 26 games with their school club, the Utica Comets, before being traded to the Rocket, who are fighting for a playoff spot.
“It’s just a new beginning [refresh]. I feel good mentally, I had some good practices, a good game. I’m taking it day by day and I’m going to try to play the best I can to help the team. »
“I know how to play hockey, I had good seasons in that league. It’s just getting my game back and playing well. »
A heavy loss
At the end of the season which promises to be eventful with the fight for the playoffs particularly tight, the Rocket will have to play without Xavier Simoneau and Jared Davidson. The first must undergo surgery on his left shoulder, which ends his season, while the second, injured in the “upper body”, will be absent for a period of up to six weeks. Regarding Simoneau, the team’s fourth-highest scorer, Houle admitted that “that hurts.” “He is not a player who is easy to replace because he does a lot for our team. […] We hope that the others gain ground. A guy like [Jacob] Perreault, [Riley] McKay, even Durandeau… By committee, we will try to replace him. »
With its victory on Friday, a fourth in a row, the Rocket finds itself in 5e rank in the North division, one point behind the Belleville Senators and one point ahead of the Toronto Marlies… It’s heating up!