Habs to keep draft pick David Reinbacher in Europe next year due to fan backlash

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David Macintyre
June 30, 2023 (10:18)

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David Reinbacher's selection by the Habs has gotten quite the hostile reception in Montreal, at least on social media.

The Austrian blueliner selected fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens during the first round of the NHL draft on Wednesday has gotten quite a lot of backlash from fans who wanted talented Russian sniper Matvei Michkov, who went two picks later to the Philadelphia Flyers. Just look at some of the (more PG-rated) reactions from Twitter alone:

Unfortunately, it seems as if the brutal and visceral response to the pick may have affected members of the Habs' front office. According to Arpon Basu of The Athletic, Canadiens management may be reluctant to bring Reinbacher to North America too soon, given how much anger there is within the fanbase right now.

Basu reports that people within the organization have seen the reaction as being eye-opening, and that having him play in the AHL or NHL next season «might do more harm than good» given how poorly fans have responded to his arrival. Whether or not this will actually factor into their decision making remains to be seen, but some fans are already reacting with bemusement as to why team brass is shocked with the reception.

Regardless, there are times when passion has to be overtaken by common sense in life, and the way some fans have been reacting to the draft pick � the Hitler comparisons, for example � have no place in this sport. We can all cheer for our team and criticize management's decisions without having to take things to such extremes. David Reinbacher is still expected to be a very good player in this league, so Habs fans should absolutely welcome him to Montreal and root for him to succeed.