Montreal Canadiens Black Aces Recalls: Reinbacher, Beck, Engstrom and Xhekaj Join the Group

It was only a matter of time, and now it’s done. With the Laval Rocket’s season officially over, the Montreal Canadiens have made their Montreal Canadiens Black Aces recalls for the 2025 NHL playoffs: David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom, Owen Beck, and Florian Xhekaj are joining the NHL group as depth reserves.

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Why The Montreal Canadiens Black Aces Recalls Make Sense

Once the NHL playoffs begin, recall rules are unlimited, and smart organizations use that to their advantage. The Black Aces tradition is simple: young players who are no longer active with their AHL clubs travel with the NHL team, practice with the group, and absorb everything that a playoff environment has to offer. No development camp, no rookie tournament, no regular-season callup comes close to replicating what these guys will experience over the next few weeks.

For a deeper look at the Black Aces tradition, the NHL breaks it down here.

Don’t Expect These Black Aces Recalls To See Ice Time

Let’s be straight: barring something unexpected, none of these four players should actually suit up. In the current Canadiens depth chart, Jayden Struble, Brendan Gallagher, and Oliver Kapanen are all ahead of them if the coaching staff needs to make an emergency move. Those are players with more NHL experience, the kind of trust that takes time to build.

The one wildcard? Florian Xhekaj. If Montreal needs a sandpaper element in a series that gets physical, his name could come up. He plays a style that coaches sometimes reach for in desperation, but right now, the odds of him dressing remain low.

Reinbacher: Injured But Still Part Of The Group

David Reinbacher is dealing with an injury that appears to be nothing overly serious, but enough to keep him out of game action. His inclusion among the Montreal Canadiens Black Aces recalls is still completely logical: with the Rocket’s season done, there’s no reason to leave him in Laval.

Being inside the Canadiens’ building means access to the organization’s medical staff and a faster, better-monitored recovery. He gets to heal in the best possible environment while soaking in the playoff experience from the inside. Reinbacher had shown strong developmental strides this season, according to RDS.

Worth noting: Engstrom, like Reinbacher, was already skating with the Canadiens before the Rocket’s playoff run began, so his transition back to the NHL group is seamless.

Beck And Engstrom: A First Taste Of NHL Playoff Life

For Owen Beck and Adam Engstrom, this is new territory. Neither has experienced an NHL playoff environment from the inside before, not as a participant, not as a Black Ace. What they’ll witness over the coming weeks, how veteran players prepare, how coaches adjust, how the organization handles pressure, is the kind of education that no practice or development camp can replicate. It’s the stuff that shapes careers.

To follow the development of both forwards, check out our full Canadiens prospect tracker.

What These Recalls Tell Us About The Canadiens’ Direction

The Canadiens Black Aces recalls are more than a procedural move; they reflect a clear organizational philosophy under Kent Hughes: immerse your young players in a winning culture as early and as often as possible. Even without a single shift of playoff hockey, Reinbacher, Beck, Engstrom, and Xhekaj will return to training camp next fall as better, more prepared players. That’s the long game, and Montreal is playing it.

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