Q. What's the feeling to be wearing a Canadiens jersey?
DAVID REINBACHER: It's an amazing feeling. First I got told I've got to say something. It's "bon jour, je suis David." I don't know if it's good.
Yeah, it's an incredible feeling. Still can't believe it. It's a really huge honor for me to put on such great colors from a great organization. I don't know, I can't describe the feeling.
Q. What was going through your mind when you heard "David," and then he stopped --
DAVID REINBACHER: It was like small shock in it, to be honest, but I guess, yeah, they said it was a joke or something or it was planned. Yeah, I'm just happy to get picked by such a great organization.
Q. Did you know you were going to go that high?
DAVID REINBACHER: For sure there was some speculation. I had a good meeting with them. I met the owner and all those guys, the coach. It was really nice to meet all those great guys.
Yeah, for sure -- I didn't expect it to go that high, but now it's an incredible feeling. It's a really huge honor for me.
Q. What do you think they liked the most in your game?
DAVID REINBACHER: I would say the breakout defenseman. I can feed the offensive guys, can skate out with the puck. I'm really calm with the puck on the stick. I'm a good skater. I'm also tall, so I would say those are the facts they like about me.
Q. Is there any symbolism for you being the highest drafted player from Austria?
DAVID REINBACHER: For sure. To be that guy or to be like standing next to him at the draft board now picked as one of the highest Austrian guys, yeah, it's unreal. I can't believe it. It's such a great feeling. For sure it makes me proud to be an Austrian, to show the kids it's possible to get drafted that high.
Q. How do you plan on (indiscernible)?
DAVID REINBACHER: Yeah, for sure. Got to be developed in the offensive zone, working the blue line, be calmer there, getting the shots through. I guess with a lot of time after the practices with the coaches we got there. It's only a matter of time I would say.
Q. You said Roman Josi was one of your role models --
DAVID REINBACHER: I was really impressed. To be honest I had small tears in my eyes to see him. He's my, from kid on, idol. I really looked up to him. Tried to model the game like him. To talk with him before the draft, it was so nice.
Q. Did he say anything special to you?
DAVID REINBACHER: He just said to enjoy the moment now. It's an incredible feeling. Then he was talking about back home in Switzerland, how it was to play there against his old club SC Bern, so it was small talk there.
Q. (Indiscernible).
DAVID REINBACHER: I met them here in Nashville yesterday. Had a meeting with all the guys there.
Q. After the meeting were you of the impression that you were their guy?
DAVID REINBACHER: I had that feeling, to be honest. If I could be that guy to get picked. But I kind of like let it go and just enjoyed the moment. Yeah, waiting for who drafts me. But now it's that team. I was kind of like, how do you say, tried to get there, tried to be picked from them. So it's an incredible feeling.
Q. What's something you're really looking forward to about the city of Montreal?
DAVID REINBACHER: For sure the fans. They've got a great community there. They have passion. Then for sure the history. It's an amazing history there, and for sure all the guys, I guess there's some funny guys I saw in the video, Cole Caufield, so really excited to meet him.
Q. I know it's still a long road, but anything scary about going to Montreal where hockey is --
DAVID REINBACHER: Not scary. I guess I'm really focused in. Happy. I'm excited to get there and play as soon as possible in the NHL. I would say I'm not scared. I'm excited to be a part of that organization.
Q. (Indiscernible).
DAVID REINBACHER: Exactly I don't know the plan yet. I guess we've got to figure it out afterwards. I've got a development camp there and then we'll see what happens. For sure there's still school, but I guess there's online school today, so I can manage that.
Q. When you think of the path that led you here tonight, who are the persons that inspired you, helped you get here?
DAVID REINBACHER: For sure the coaches, the players back in Kloten and then for sure my family. They're the biggest part. They supported me from day one.
But for sure I've got to say a big thank you to Jeff Tomlinson. He's also here. He kind of like made my path to here. He's a part of me. He gave me the confidence to play. Yeah, I'm really thankful for that.
Q. (Indiscernible).
DAVID REINBACHER: I guess we're on the right path to develop. Now we stayed up in the world championship group in the highest group there, so it's a good thing. We can like take the good parts out of there. Yeah, I hope many more guys coming from Austria and find the way or the path to NHL Draft and one day playing in the NHL.
Q. Do you expect to hear from Kasper at all?
DAVID REINBACHER: Yeah, we texted before the draft, like just enjoy the moment. It's fun, it's a fun time, and yeah, probably I will call him later on.
Q. This pick might have taken some by surprise. When did you start feeling that it was possible (indiscernible).
DAVID REINBACHER: I would say at the meeting in Buffalo. I had a really good meeting there, and then for sure one more at Nashville with the owner. I was really impressed, and for sure the coach.
So yeah, I'm just thankful. I don't know what to say right now. My words are anywhere in the universe.
Q. (Indiscernible).
DAVID REINBACHER: Not really. It was like a normal talk. They were introducing themselves, and we were talking about myself a little bit. It was like just normal talk.
Q. What areas do you think you need to grow to get to where you want to be to make your debut?
DAVID REINBACHER: I would say my offensive game has got to grow, and then for sure my strength. I've got to put on more weight to be stronger on the ice, so I would say those two things.
Q. How much do you want to show your game as a defenseman?
DAVID REINBACHER: For sure. It's high motivation now. Like I said, now it's time to get back to work, putting on the boots to play or to train, to prove to all the guys that it was the right decision to take me in this year's draft.
Q. (Indiscernible).
DAVID REINBACHER: For sure. It's my goal to play as soon as possible in the NHL, but I would say it's time to plan, to develop, to get to a point where it makes sense to play.
Q. What are the options if not the NHL?
DAVID REINBACHER: For sure there's the option to go home. I have one more year in Kloten and then for sure the school year, but I can do it online, like I said.
Then yeah, I don't know what the Canadiens are planning. I start some more meetings afterwards. So just like letting that come to me.
Q. (Indiscernible).
DAVID REINBACHER: If they say it's the right way to develop, for sure I will do it. I will do what the club says, what their plan is, so I'm open to it.
Q. (Indiscernible).
DAVID REINBACHER: For sure. Everyone was talking about my job next to hockey. Yeah, going after practices to the office doing headhunter, searching people for projects, it's kind of part of my school, so I had to do it, but yeah, it's a great thing.
Q. Do you know some of the young defensemen with the Canadiens?
DAVID REINBACHER: Yeah, for sure Lane Hutson. He made a nice thing at the world championships against us, so can't wait to see him, and then for sure the forwards, Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, Suzuki, all those guys. I'm really pumped up to see all those guys.
Q. Do you see yourself having chemistry with (indiscernible)?
DAVID REINBACHER: For sure. It would be incredible to play with him. I guess he's left-handed, so perfect pair. I would say it's a matter of time and what the club decides.
Q. How is your French?
DAVID REINBACHER: It's not good I would say. I can speak some words like some openings and how are you and all that stuff, but that was all, but I will learn it for sure.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports