David Reinbacher and Jacob Fowler sent to Laval as Florian Xhekaj hangs on

The Montreal Canadiens took another step toward finalizing their opening-night roster on Sunday, and two prominent prospects are heading to the American Hockey League. Defenceman David Reinbacher and goaltender Jacob Fowler were both cut from camp and assigned to the Laval Rocket to begin the season.

Reinbacher and Fowler assigned to Rocket

Reinbacher, selected fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, showed a steadier game during this year’s training camp but will continue his development in Laval. The Austrian blue-liner remains a key piece of the organization’s future, yet the Canadiens opted for more AHL experience before inserting him full-time into the NHL lineup.

Fowler, who also saw pre-season action, joins him with the Rocket after the club trimmed its goaltending depth chart. His stint in Laval should offer regular starts and a more prominent role than would be available behind established options in Montreal.

Xhekaj, Engström stay; Montembeault in line to start in NHL

While Reinbacher and Fowler are on their way to the AHL, forward Florian Xhekaj and defenceman Adam Engström survived Sunday’s cuts and remain with the Canadiens. Their presence suggests they are still in serious contention for spots on the 23-man roster, though final decisions have yet to be made.

The team also placed nine players on waivers Sunday so they can be reassigned to Laval before Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline to reach the 23-player limit. Those skaters must first clear waivers, giving the rest of the league a chance to claim them before they report to the Rocket.

Sunday’s moves further clarify the picture in goal. All indications are that Samuel Montembeault will start the season in Montreal alongside veteran netminders whose status had been uncertain. Montembeault posted a strong camp, allowing only one goal in 93 minutes on 35 shots. Fowler, by comparison, gave up three goals in 65 minutes on 28 shots before being sent down.

General manager Kent Hughes had already signalled at the team’s annual golf tournament that the Canadiens intended to carry only two goaltenders on the NHL roster to open the year, and the latest decisions align with that plan.

Condotta injured; Canadiens head to Toronto

Forward Lucas Condotta finds himself in a different situation. He was not placed on waivers, yet will not start the season in Montreal. According to information reported, Condotta is injured and is expected to miss roughly a month of action. Because NHL rules do not allow teams to waive injured players, he remains on the books while sidelined. Condotta appeared in only one pre-season game, on September 19, a contest in which he engaged in a spirited fight with Michael Pezzetta.

The Canadiens will practice on Monday before travelling to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs in their 2026-27 season opener on Tuesday. By then, the club’s waiver decisions and the status of players such as Xhekaj and Engström should be resolved as the roster is finalized at 23 players.