NHL Entry Draft 2023: Montreal Cana­diens select David Rein­bacher at No. five

The 18-year-old from Vorarlberg did not have to wait long at the NHL Entry Draft 2023 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

After Connor Bedard was selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks as expected, the Anaheim Ducks took Swedish centre Leo Carlsson at No. two, the Columbus Blue Jackets selected Adam Fantilli and the San Jose Sharks chose William Smith, both also centres, Reinbacher was picked fifth overall by NHL record champions the Montreal Canadiens (24-time Stanley Cup winners).

Exactly 20 years after Thomas Vanek, who was also selected fifth overall in the first round by the Buffalo Sabres in 2003, Reinbacher equalled the highest NHL Draft position ever achieved by an Austrian. The player from Styria introduced himself to the fans in a short statement on Twitter while already wearing a Canadiens jersey: "Hello, my name is David! I cannot wait to come back to Montreal. I have been there before and cannot wait to see you fans!"

The 1,89-metre-tall right-shot defenceman, who most recently wore Austria's red-white-red jersey at the World Championship in Tampere and helped the team stay in the top division, is the highest-drafted Austrian-born defenceman in NHL Draft history and also the highest-drafted defenceman in this year's draft.

Vanek congratulates Reinbacher on NHL Draft

Thomas Vanek also sent Reinbacher his congratulations on his successful NHL Draft via Canadian TV channel Sportsnet: "David, congratulations on being drafted in the first round. It is always special and great when an Austrian colleague is selected so high! Good job, I wish you all the best!" Reinbacher is only the fifth Austrian to be selected in the first round and, like Thomas Vanek, who briefly wore a Canadiens jersey himself in 2014, was picked so early.

Marco Kasper was selected eighth overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2022, Marco Rossi ninth overall by Minnesota Wild in 2020, while Michael Grabner was picked 14th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2006.

After Vinzenz Rohrer, Reinbacher is the second player from Vorarlberg to whose rights the Montreal Canadiens now hold. Rohrer was selected by the Habs in the third round, 75th overall, in 2022. The forward is joining the ZSC Lions in Zurich for two years this season.