The Montreal Canadiens have a bit of a conundrum on their hands. The team has communicated a clear need to upgrade this season, particularly at the 2C position.
However, the club already has earmarked a former first-round pick for that. The issue lies in that player not quite living up to expectations.
The former first-rounder in question is Kirby Dach. And, given the circumstances, the Canadiens could be ready to move on from him.
Dach, who was the third-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, oozes talent and potential. The 24-year-old is 6’4” and has a solid skill set. When he’s healthy, he can play with the best of them. While his defensive game needs some work, his offensive contributions rank with the best of them.
But that’s where therefore problem lies. Dach has had injury issues throughout his career. That situation has held him back. Last season, he played 57 games, scoring 10 goals and 22 points. That’s a relatively disappointing total for someone heralded as a top-six forward on a contending team.
As such, it seems the Canadiens could be giving Dach one last chance. Insider David Pagnotta noted the following:
“We’ll see how Kirby Dach responds in camp, and if he doesn’t…maybe that escalates [Montreal’s] search for somebody in that slot.”
So, if Dach can’t cement himself in the 2C role, the Canadiens may have no choice but to part ways with a once highly-touted first-rounder.
While the Canadiens may still have a role for Dach, it wouldn’t be in their top six anymore.
Dach Could Still Have a Role with Canadiens
So, assuming the Canadiens hold on to Dach, the club might still be able to have a role for him beyond this season.
That role could be further down the trough, especially given the Habs’ need for depth. Dach, if he remains healthy enough to play, could end up occupying a bottom-six role. He could feasibly step in on a wing spot on the third line.
Again, that’s assuming he can stay healthy enough to play close to a full season. Last season, Dach underwent knee surgery. He missed the remainder of the season after being placed on IR in February.
While there was talk that he could be ready for this season, Dach remains questionable for the start of the season. Thus far, the signs point toward Dach being ready to play in the Canadiens’ preseason.
But that’s somewhat of an “if” at this point.
Dach Will Need a New Contract after this season
Dach is heading into the final year of his current four-year deal. He’ll be an RFA next summer, putting the Canadiens in a bit of a pickle. The club must decide to extend a qualifying offer (QO) to allow him to become a UFA.
According to PuckPedia, Dach’s QO is set to be $4 million. That could be far too much for the Canadiens to deal with. So, there’s a chance the two sides could agree on a deal, though it may involve allowing Dach to become a UFA and negotiating from that angle.
Ultimately, Dach’s future with the Canadiens could be up in the air unless he can finally put together a healthy, productive campaign.
Canadiens Could Be Moving on from Former 1st Round Pick