The Montreal Canadiens head into the 2025-26 season with a roster that has started to take shape under Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton’s patient rebuild. While some young stars like Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov are already carving out NHL roles, the Canadiens still boast a deep pool of prospects ready to push the organization forward. Among them, three names stand out as especially intriguing for the coming season: defenceman David Reinbacher, forward Michael Hage, and goaltender Jacob Fowler. Each is at a different stage of his development, but together they represent a promising future for the franchise at three of the most important positions.
David Reinbacher
When the Canadiens selected Reinbacher fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, they envisioned him as a future cornerstone on the right side of their defence. The road since then hasn’t been completely smooth. His first two seasons after the draft were marked by inconsistent play and, most frustratingly, injuries that limited his ability to find rhythm and confidence.
Now, as the 2025-26 season begins, Reinbacher enters healthy and ready for what feels like his true “breakout opportunity.” With a full season in Laval ahead and a strong summer of training, expectations are high. Reinbacher’s game is built on modern defensive traits: mobility, reach, and poise with the puck. He doesn’t project as a flashy offensive defenceman like Hutson, but rather as the type of stabilizing top-pair blueliner every contender needs.
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The Canadiens’ current blue line is already deep with young talent: Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble, and Noah Dobson are anchoring the blue line at the NHL level. But depth can change quickly, and Reinbacher has a path to meaningful minutes if he proves NHL-ready. Even if he spends part of the season with the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens will be watching closely to see if he can put his injury concerns behind him and become a consistent force.
A healthy Reinbacher changes the outlook of Montreal’s defence significantly. With his 6-foot-3 frame, intelligent positioning, and ability to shut down top forwards, he projects as the type of defender who could eventually play 22-24 minutes a night against elite competition. This season is about proving he can handle that trajectory. If he does, the Canadiens’ rebuild takes a massive step…
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