Canadiens cut David Reinbacher from camp, but opportunity still ahead

The Montreal Canadiens will open the season without David Reinbacher after choosing to cut the young defenceman at the end of training camp. He will not start the year in the NHL, but expectations inside the organization are that he could still earn a call-up during the season and that a more permanent roster spot should emerge by 2027-28 as several veteran contracts expire.

Reinbacher sent down, Montembeault reconnects with Bell Centre crowd

Reinbacher’s reassignment is one of the main storylines coming out of camp in Montreal. His absence from the opening-night lineup is being framed more as a developmental decision than a long-term setback, with the Canadiens’ blue line expected to look very different in a couple of years as deals come off the books. For now, he will continue his progression while waiting for the first NHL opportunity that many see as a matter of time.

Up front, Chris Kreider noted that the shortened pre-season left him wishing for a bit more time to build chemistry with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield before games start to count. While the condensed schedule was popular with many players, it also reduced the window to establish timing and familiarity on new lines.

In goal, Samuel Montembeault enjoyed a warm reception from fans at the Bell Centre, something he had not experienced in quite some time after losing his spot in the lineup last season. The ovation comes as he tries to re-establish himself as a reliable option in the Canadiens’ crease and turn the page on a tougher stretch in his career.

On the disciplinary front, Mike Matheson was fined $5,000 for roughing Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig, following a review by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. Off the ice, journalists at La Presse suggested that, by season’s end, Ivan Demidov’s contract could stand out as one of the best-value deals in the league given his upside relative to his cap hit.

The Canadiens also held their annual charity golf tournament, where Juraj Slafkovský was mic’d up to capture his interactions with teammates. Former Montreal defenceman Andrei Markov weighed in on the state of all seven Canadian NHL teams, placing the Canadiens’ trajectory in a broader national context.

League notes: Pastrnak gets the C, Barron lands in St. Louis

Around the NHL, contract talks between restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson and the Detroit Red Wings were set to continue as the regular season nears. In Boston, David Pastrnak was officially named captain of the Bruins, adding leadership duties to his already central offensive role.

Highly touted prospect James Hagens is heading into the year determined to show the teams that passed on him that they misjudged his potential. The New York Islanders, meanwhile, are hopeful Mathew Barzal will be ready in time for their season opener and have added blue-line depth by signing Logan Stanley to a one-year contract.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenceman Nick Blankenburg to a one-year deal, while former Canadiens defenceman Justin Barron was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Blues, giving him a fresh start in a new organization. The Carolina Hurricanes unveiled their Stanley Cup rings, and the Pittsburgh Penguins placed four players on injured reserve as they manage early-season health issues.

In Winnipeg, attention is turning to how the Jets will look without Connor Hellebuyck in the picture, with a season preview examining the team’s outlook in his absence. In Washington, the focus is on what the Capitals’ busy off-season of additions could mean for their competitiveness as they try to remain part of the playoff conversation.