2023-06-27 14:56:00
David Reinbacher will probably not have to wait long before his name is called in the draft of the North American ice hockey league NHL. The 18-year-old from Vorarlberg is considered a safe candidate for the first round when the 32 NHL clubs secure the worldwide rights to the best talents in Nashville on Wednesday from 6 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Thursday CEST). Experts do not rule out that Reinbacher will even be chosen as the first defender.
The 1.89 meter tall man from Lustenau earned himself a regular place at HC Kloten in the Swiss National League last season. With the promoted team, who easily managed to stay up, he received the second most ice time of all defenders and recorded 24 points in 49 games.
“I didn’t expect it to explode like that. It developed more and more from game to game,” Reinbacher explained to the APA – Austria Press Agency.
His strong performances also helped him make his debut in the Austrian national team, with which he managed to stay up at the World Championships in Tampere. There, the NHL clubs were able to convince themselves of his qualities one last time. Steve Yzerman and Kris Draper, general manager and chief scout of the Detroit Red Wings, had already seen it for themselves when they traveled to Vienna for the international match against the Czech Republic to see Reinbacher live.
Strengths only
“He brings the whole package with him,” said team boss Roger Bader about Reinbacher in preparation for the World Cup. “Basically, every great defender wants it. Then it’s very attractive and sought after that he has the racket on the right. And he has good hands, makes good plays, he’s a good shooter, so he was also a constant on the power play. He can play hard “He still has to gain muscles. He doesn’t really have a weakness, just strengths,” Bader told APA about his defender jewel.
Reinbacher will probably be the fifth Austrian after Thomas Vanek 2003 (No. 5, Buffalo Sabers), Michael Grabner 2006 (No. 14, Vancouver Canucks), Marco Rossi 2020 (No. 9, Minnesota Wild) and Marco Kasper 2022 (No. 8 , Detroit Red Wings) whose rights are acquired in the first round of the draft.
The draft takes place in two parts. The first round will be completed on Wednesday local time, and rounds two to seven will continue on Thursday (5 p.m. CEST). The Chicago Blackhawks, who have first pick, are expected to pick Canada center Connor Bedard. The Anaheim Ducks should then choose the American Adam Fantilli, according to the forecast. (apa)
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