Kent Hughes' worst decision appears to be coming true with the Montreal Canadiens

Stéphane Leroux just released his updated list of the top 40 drafted prospects who have played fewer than 15 games in the NHL, and the Montreal Canadiens have a solid presence with four names on the board.

Reinbacher was drafted by Montreal, ahead of Zach Benson, Ryan Leonard and Matvei Michkov.

Goaltender Jacob Fowler and forward Michael Hage are sitting comfortably in the upper tiers, reflecting their strong draft pedigree.

The bottom of the graphic tells a completely different story for a fan base starved for a true top-pairing right shot.

Sitting at the absolute bottom of the pile, dead last at number 40, is David Reinbacher.

This is a massive blow to the perception of the fifth overall pick from the 2023 NHL draft.

Management walked to the podium and bypassed elite scorers to secure what they believed was a cornerstone piece for the defense.

The logic made sense at the time. You build from the back out, and big, mobile defensemen are hard to find.

Unfortunately, a string of significant injuries and inconsistent play have completely derailed his momentum over the past two seasons.

Missing an entire year of valuable development time is a disaster for a young European defender trying to master the North American rink.

You cannot learn the speed of the professional game while watching from the press box in street clothes. Leroux does not hand out rankings blindly. He talks to scouts and executives across the league constantly.

Dropping Reinbacher to the 40th spot is a clear signal that the rest of the hockey world is rapidly losing faith.

Several of his draft class peers are already contributing big minutes in the Show, leaving him behind in the dust as they secure full-time roster spots.

The raw physical tools and defensive instincts remain locked inside his massive frame. He desperately needs to put together a stretch of healthy hockey.

If he cannot find his game soon, this draft pick will haunt the front office for the next decade.

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