Florian Xhekaj & Reinbacher Are Forcing the Canadiens Into Tough Decisions

Training camp is supposed to answer questions for NHL teams, but sometimes it creates even more of them. That may be exactly what is happening for the Montreal Canadiens with Florian Xhekaj and David Reinbacher.

Neither player entered camp with a guaranteed NHL roster spot. With Montreal already carrying plenty of depth and competition throughout the lineup, there simply aren’t many openings available. However, both youngsters have made strong impressions and are forcing management to at least think twice before making its final cuts.

There is still value in sending young players to the American Hockey League (AHL), especially when they can play significant minutes with the Laval Rocket. At the same time, when a player proves he is ready for a bigger opportunity, the Canadiens have to consider whether keeping him around is the better option.

Xhekaj Continues to Push for a Spot

Florian Xhekaj has been one of the more interesting players to follow throughout camp. The 22-year-old has always brought an intriguing combination of size, physicality and energy, but the biggest question has been whether the rest of his game would develop enough for him to become an NHL player.

So far, he is giving the Canadiens plenty to think about. Xhekaj doesn’t necessarily need to become a major offensive producer to have value. His game is built around being difficult to play against, creating energy and bringing a physical presence to the bottom six. Those are qualities that can become especially valuable over an 84-game season and eventually in the playoffs.

The problem is finding him a spot. Montreal already has several forwards competing for bottom-six roles, and the organization doesn’t need to rush Xhekaj simply because he has put together a strong camp. Playing important minutes in Laval could still be better for his long-term development than being the 13th or 14th forward in Montreal.

But that decision becomes harder if he continues to perform. At some point, prospects have to be rewarded for forcing the issue. If Xhekaj demonstrates that he can keep up with NHL competition while providing something different from other players on the roster, management will have to seriously consider keeping him around.

Reinbacher Making His Case

David Reinbacher might present an even more interesting situation.

The fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has had a difficult development path because of injuries. That has slowed some of the excitement surrounding him, especially as other young Canadiens have established themselves at the NHL level.

A strong training camp can quickly change the conversation. Reinbacher doesn’t need to become an offensive defenceman who produces huge numbers. Montreal drafted him because of his overall package. At 6-foot-3, he brings size, mobility and a right-handed shot while having the potential to become a dependable two-way defenceman.

Montreal already has an established defensive group, and keeping Reinbacher in the NHL only makes sense if he is going to play. Having him sit in the press box regularly would accomplish very little for his development. However, with the injury to Kaiden Guhle, Reinbacher could start the season in Montreal. If the Canadiens believe he needs significant minutes, Laval remains an excellent option.

After injuries have interrupted his development, simply seeing Reinbacher healthy and playing confidently is already encouraging. If he can build on that performance, it might not be long before Montreal has no choice but to find room for him.

A Good Problem for the Canadiens

Ultimately, these are the types of difficult decisions the Canadiens should want to have. There was a time during the rebuild when roster spots were relatively easy to find for young players. That isn’t necessarily the case anymore. Montreal has become deeper, expectations have increased and prospects now have to legitimately earn their opportunities.

Xhekaj and Reinbacher appear determined to do exactly that. The Canadiens don’t have to make their decisions based entirely on a handful of preseason games. Development, roster construction, waivers and playing time all have to be considered. Sending either player to Laval wouldn’t necessarily mean he had a poor camp or had taken a step backward. It could simply mean there isn’t enough room yet.

But both players are making those conversations much more difficult than they might have been a few weeks ago. Xhekaj is showing that his unique physical style could potentially help the bottom six, while Reinbacher is reminding everyone why Montreal was so high on him when he was drafted.

There are only so many roster spots available. If Xhekaj and Reinbacher keep playing this well, the Canadiens are going to have to think very hard about who deserves them.