Those players you listed didn’t have the same production on Chicago.
Debrincat 23 y/o 41g 37a 78 pts 82g
last year of contract
Hagel 23 y/o 21g 16a 37 pts 55g
Stroke 25 y/o 22g 26a 48 pts 69g UFA
Dach 21 y/o 9g 17 a 26 pts 70 g
Debrincat, Hagel and Strome combined for 84 goals and Dach 9 goals.
Dach didn’t scream “ I will screw the tank for Bédard.”
My guess is that Chicago saw something throughout the 3 seasons Dach was with the team, whether it’s not taking is rehabilitation or his training seriously, maybe he took lazy stupid penalties like he does with Montreal, maybe he had poor work ethic, was often uninvolved and was nonchalant during many games.
Also, the argument that he sustained a serious injury and that it might take time to get back to game shape, how long will it take? As far as I am concerned, many players were in the end of serious injuries and came back better than ever, those are warriors, fighters and leaders. Dach is none of this and we are all witnessing it.
He just doesn’t have what it takes.