Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Reinbacher is expected to be sidelined five to six months after undergoing surgery on his left knee Tuesday.
Reinbacher sustained the injury after he was on the receiving end of a hit by Maple Leafs defenseman Marshall Rifai in the first period of Montreal's 2-1 preseason loss to Toronto on Saturday. Reinbacher was spotted on crutches after the game.
Reinbacher, 19, was selected by the Canadiens with the fifth overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft.
He had 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 35 games with EHC Kloten of the National League in Switzerland and five more (two goals, three assists) in 11 games with Laval of the American Hockey League.