Owen Beck recalled and we believe the Canadiens made the wrong decision

Owen Beck is back with the Montreal Canadiens, but Martin St-Louis and the decision to leave David Reinbacher in Laval are raising questions.

The Canadiens officially recalled Beck from the Laval Rocket on Thursday, just one day after sending him and Reinbacher down together. But the young defenseman isn't coming back with him.

The timing makes this roster decision particularly interesting. Both prospects played Wednesday night against the Syracuse Crunch, and both found the back of the net in Laval's 5-1 victory.

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Reinbacher delivered a beautiful breakaway goal during four-on-four action in the third period, beating Syracuse goaltender Mads Sogaard to finish the scoring.

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Beck also scored, taking advantage of a turnover to put the puck into an empty net. Both players made their presence felt immediately after returning to the American Hockey League.

David Reinbacher deserved an NHL re-call over Owen Beck

Yet Montreal has decided to bring back the forward while keeping its former fifth-overall draft pick in Laval. It's a choice that could spark debate among Canadiens fans.

Reinbacher's latest performance only makes the situation more intriguing. Before Wednesday's game, the Austrian defenseman had already recorded two assists and a +3 rating in four AHL appearances this season.

His opportunity with Montreal was extremely limited. Reinbacher played just 9:09 during his lone NHL appearance this season before being returned to Laval.

Beck, meanwhile, averaged 7:23 across his two appearances with the Canadiens. His recall gives St-Louis another option up front, although his exact role remains unclear.

There is a reasonable explanation for the different decisions. Montreal's needs at forward and defense aren't identical, and Reinbacher could benefit from playing substantial minutes rather than sitting in the press box.

Still, the contrast is difficult to ignore. Reinbacher answered his demotion with an impressive goal, but that wasn't enough to earn an immediate return to the NHL.

For a young defenseman trying to establish himself, consistent opportunities matter. The Canadiens must balance his long-term development against their immediate lineup needs.

The real question now is whether Reinbacher will get another NHL opportunity soon, or whether Montreal intends to keep him in Laval despite his encouraging performances.

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