On Elite Prospects' first draft board, a top-32 containing many of the class’ A-level prospects, David Reinbacher's name only appeared as an honourable mention. 

It’s not that we forgot about the Austrian defenceman. We appreciated his strengths when he played for Austria at the World Junior Under-20 and in his first months with EHC Kloten this season. His production of 14 points in 28 league games, especially, stood out for such a young player in a professional league. 

But doubts about certain aspects of his overall projection kept him on the outside looking in on our first list.

His performance at the World Juniors Under-20, a tournament in which he returned a more experienced and confident player, has made his omission feel like a mistake. 

To many of us, it’s now clear that the defenceman