Canadiens' Quick Hits: Pickford, Reinbacher & Blais
Some nights are quiet in the Montréal Canadiens’ system. Then you get a night like this one — goals, assists, big performances, and a few prospects showing exactly why the organization is excited about its future. Montréal isn’t a finished product yet, not even close, but the depth is starting to look real. Across the WHL, the AHL, and the junior ranks, several names stepped up and gave the organization something to smile about.
Here are the quick hits from a big Friday around the Canadiens’ pipeline.
Quick Hit One: Bryce Pickford Keeps Rolling in Medicine Hat
Bryce Pickford has picked up right where he left off after that month-long absence. He put up a goal and an assist in Medicine Hat’s 3–2 win over Calgary, stretching his hot streak to seven points in his last four games. For a 19-year-old defenceman to already sit at 36 goals and 69 points in 46 games. That’s far better than normal production from the blue line.
Yes, the WHL isn’t the NHL, and everyone knows the jump is massive. But you can only dominate the league you’re in, and Pickford is doing exactly that. Montréal drafted him for his skating and transition ability, but the scoring touch he’s showing this season is pushing his stock up quickly. He’s gone from “intriguing pick” to “player to watch closely” in a hurry.
Quick Hit Two: David Reinbacher Breaks Out with Three Assists
David Reinbacher has had a steady, learning-heavy first pro year in Laval, but Friday night was one of those games where everything clicked. He piled up three assists in the Rocket’s 9–3 win over Rochester — his first multi-point game in two months.
His season hasn’t been flashy, and he’s still working through the offensive consistency part of his development. But he’s sitting at 19 points with a plus-13 rating in 42 games after losing nearly all of last season to a knee injury. When he’s on, you can see why Montréal drafted him so high: poised, smart, efficient, and almost always making the right first read with the puck.
Quick Hit Three: Sammy Blais Pots Two for Laval
Sammy Blais has been a bit quiet lately, putting up only two assists in his last six games, but he broke out in a big way Friday with a pair of goals. His night helped Laval cruise through that 9–3 blowout, and he’s now at six goals and 19 points in 19 AHL games.
Blais will always be a depth forward at the NHL level, but he brings a heavy style and enough scoring touch to become an option if Montréal needs help later in the season. Nights like this remind you that he can be a handful when he’s skating well and playing straight through defenders.
What’s Happening in the Canadiens’ System?
Across the organization, Montréal’s pipeline is trending the right way. Pickford is tearing up junior hockey, Reinbacher is settling comfortably into his first full AHL season, and Laval has several forwards — Blais included — knocking on the NHL door. A few CHL prospects are putting together strong second halves, and the Rocket are getting healthier at a good time.
It’s not going to turn the Canadiens around overnight, but the foundation looks better than it has in years. Nights like this one show why management keeps preaching patience. The next wave is coming — and it’s starting to get interesting.