David Reinbacher receives custom denim jacket at Nashville Draft

MONTREAL - Hearing his name called fifth overall in Nashville was music to David Reinbacher's ears.

It wasn't the only souvenir the 18-year-old left Music City with.

Backstage at Bridgestone Arena following his selection, the Canadiens presented Reinbacher with a custom denim jacket that could have easily belonged to some of the country legends who have passed through those same halls over the years.

And like a good western tune, it's got a story to tell.

Featuring a mix of Montreal-meets-Nashville imagery, the goal was to create the club's 2023 first-round pick a fitting keepsake from his big night - before even knowing who he would be. Orange cones, Canadiens logos, Quebec flags, bagels, and even Youppi!'s eyes can be found repping La belle province on the fabric, while guitars, fringe, cowboy boots, and an outline of the state of Tennessee keep things country in honor of the host city.

The project came to life with the help of a local artist, Gabrielle Goodwin, who is the proprietor of Denim Canvas Nashville - a moniker almost as self-explanatory as Le Club de hockey Canadien.

The Canadiens and Goodwin collaborated once previously, for an activity during the team's Moms' Trip in January, but this time the alliance was more ambitious.

"Including sourcing the materials and everything, this piece took 15-plus hours to complete," explained the designer who holds a degree in fine arts. "There's fringe, the paint, the patches... and each single stud you see was hand finished to put in - creating the end result you see here."

"You'll see black fringe all up and down Broadway, so I felt like that was a cool touch, giving it that urban cowboy vibe," continued Goodwin. "Then for Montreal you have real jersey numbers for the 23 representing the year sewn onto the sleeves, and a hidden number 10 inside the jacket as a nod to Guy Lafleur."

With so many elements coming together to create a one-of-a-kind piece, is the top destined to hang in the Reinbacher fan cave, preserving it in mint condition? Not quite.

"It's amazing. Oh my gosh, I couldn't believe it when I saw it. The back print is so nice; I would go out normally wearing this. I have more of a skater style, so it's a perfect fit," described the 18-year-old during a photoshoot with the garment at the team's development camp. "I'm going to wear it to my first game back home, and then I'm going to wear it for my first game in Montreal."

Although the Habs typically suit up in shirts and ties for game nights, it's safe to say there will be at least one Canadiens tuxedo among the arrivals at the Bell Centre soon.

For more from the 2023 NHL Draft, including Kaiden Guhle's (belated) opportunity to experience the event in person, visit the team's

Draft Central page

.