Player Discussion Kirby Dach: Welcome to Montreal part 2

[Legend123]

f***, yes.

I’m a Leafs fan, but with Dach, Suzuki, and Guhle I’m rooting for the Habs every single game. Regarding Dach in particular, I’ve been his biggest proponent since the beginning. In 2018-19 I argued he should have gone second before Kakko and had the greatest potential in that whole draft. Now he is finally getting the chance to blossom, and he’s already scoring at the same rate as Hughes or Zegras. It’s not just much better linemates in Suzuki and Caufield (why would anyone not pair Dach’s amazing playmaking with guys who can score?) but a coach that trusts him and gives him ample ice time.

Dach has 100 point potential and I think he’s found the absolute best spot to realize it. I’ll be here cheering him on every step of the way.

almost certainly not 100 points potential. Till he gets that 'it' factor like caufield already has hes not gonna hit 100 points.

 

[Sorinth]

Ask MB, he built this crew and added the FAs


then keep Kirby far away from C - since toenails is basically saying that Kirby is going to be useless.

Except Therrien is wrong about pretty much everything which means Dach should be center.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

almost certainly not 100 points potential. Till he gets that 'it' factor like caufield already has hes not gonna hit 100 points.

as much as I think he's got enormous potential, I still think it's way too early to say anything definitive. Who knows he could be one of those moody guys who are mercurial from one season to the next or one stretch of 20 games to the next etc. Could even still lose this trade. Who knows.

Very inspired move to put him with Suzuki and CC though that's for sure. I'd be in no rush to put him back to C.

 

[jrom]

Ya I do feel like that's the plan if we don't get a top pick.

Dubois also makes sense if our top 2023 pick is not a C but a better winger then Mesar

The jets will look to trade Dubois next summer, so there's no guarantee Dubois makes it to free agency.

If Dubois is serious about wanting to play here he won't commit long term. If he does well wasn't meant to be.

 

[SlafySZN]

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

If Dubois is serious about wanting to play here he won't commit long term. If he does well wasn't meant to be.

Dubois, like most other players, have multiple teams they would be willing to sign long term with. The habs might be his prefered team, but if a team he likes acquires him and he has success with them, why would he reject a long term contract?

Why would the habs, who have a ton of assets and have a major need for a young center that fits their core, take a chance on missing out on Dubois?

The habs could get Dubois for some of these assets and losing these won't hurt them at all:
Panthers 1st, Flames 1st, Dvorak, Monahan tdl return, Kidney, Ylonen, Mysak, 2nd round picks, etc.

 

[The Great Weal]

Dubois also makes sense if our top 2023 pick is not a C but a better winger then Mesar

Assuming Dach can become a 60 point winger, we can afford to wait on that last top 6 winger until we figure out the defense and goaltending.

 

[BLONG7]

Kudos to Dach for making the first line, and true FIRST line!!!
The trio has been awesome since MSL decided to put them together.

 

[HuGort]

Says who? Stats says I'm right. Welcome to reality.

Dach a lot better player since moving from center. Doesn't have the defensive responsibility and his poor faceoff percentage is removed.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

He's proving me wrong which is great. I need to see it for an entire season though. He's playing great right now. I worry he will go back to his previous ways.

 

[Colezuki]

Crazy that the trade with Chicago all those years ago netted us a top 6 C and a top 6 F

Fleisch and Dutch Gretzky for Danault and romanov

Romanov and some picks for Dach

 

[BaseballCoach]

Ya hes doing okay.

Dach-Monahan

It looks like we have a first line. If we don't want to mess with that at this time, let's look at the rest of the forwards.

Hoffman-Dvorak-Gallagher has had a good couple of games, keep them together as the 3rd line.

The potential "second" line to put together has to be Monahan centering Slafkovsky and Anderson. They have the potential to score 60 goals or more between them, as long as Slafkovsky can get close to a third of that.

That leaves Drouin-Evans-Armia for the 4th, and Dadonov and Pezzetta as the spares.

Now, that second line may not be enough long-term. Chances are Monahan is not re-signed. But we do have Mesar and Beck coming and more importantly the 2023 first round picks. We have at least two first rounders, and it could be up to four, depending on the Monahan trade, and whether Edmundson is traded this year or next.

We could play Dvorak as stopgap 2C for a year if we don't think 2023-24 is a compete year just yet, but clearly the Center line is an issue to solve as we continue to rebuild.

I really do think this all works out better with Dach as the 2C (1B), but Slafkovsky will need to be a top 6 scorer and we will need one more good winger to capitalize on Dach's playmaking.

Whether it is Heineman or a high pick or a UFA that we slot in longer-term with Suzuki and Caufield, I think it is easier to find a winger than a C that can make plays.

I'm very happy for Dach to become Malkin-lite in the long-term, a guy who can either carry a second great line (despite weak faceoff skills) or be added on to the first line when you really want to load up. If not Malkin, then there are guys like Duchene, PL Dubois or the old days Damphousse who could switch back and forth between C and Wing to help create two strong lines.

No matter what, I am thrilled to have 21 year old Kirby Dach in the fold!

 

[Rob Sense]

Dach a lot better player since moving from center. Doesn't have the defensive responsibility and his poor faceoff percentage is removed.

everyone has defensive responsibility. I guess this is your way of changing your tune on Dach.

 

[Kimota]

I would not mind him being more physical. He's a big boy and In Chicago, he had a few scraps. But it will probably come if tested. Imagine if him and Slaf mix in skills and physicality, it would could be scary.

 

[A55P2]

everyone has defensive responsibility. I guess this is your way of changing your tune on Dach.

Yes, but it seems he's able to do fine defensively on the wings. It is indeed less respsonsibility on the wings and I bet having played center and trying to make it all work is helping him right now on the wings.

It's early to tell, but who cares really if he's a winger? We need those anyway and he seems to be very good on the wing.

 

[sandviper]

Wing or center, I'm happy to see Dach thriving at the moment. He's not a line driver, but he's definitely pulling his own weight with CC and Zuks. I've always been high on him and as much as I did like Romy, this is a better trade for us by far.

Confidence, playing with good line mates and given opportunities to succeed... what a crazy concept!

 

[ChesterNimitz]

almost certainly not 100 points potential. Till he gets that 'it' factor like caufield already has hes not gonna hit 100 points.

At 21 he still has time to achieve the upside potential he flashed when he was initially drafted. As I watch Dach, I come away wishing that he had that proverbial one half step more quickness. But I suspect if he did, Chicago wouldn’t have traded him.

 

[ReHabs]

A confident skilled player is a joy to behold.

I get flashes of young Joe Thornton every so often. Imagine… just imagine…

 

[Sterling Archer]

A fire hydrant could score 68 points Playing with Suzuki and Caufield. Look at Monahan when he was there?

You’re totally right. The 21 y.o, 3rd OA pick obviously has no talent and just coasting on Suzuki and Caufield’s skill.

Orrrrrrrrrrr, the big, skilled player actually needed talented players to play with to realize his own skill. Remember how well Caufield played without Suzuki last year?

Skill needs skill to thrive. It’s not rocket science.

 

[FerrisRox]

He needs to be the man on his line, or at least part of a dynamic duo. He doesnt fit as a third wheel.

Excellent point. He's really struggling out there with Suzuki and Caufield. Why can't St. Louis see this?

 

[1909]

At the time of the trade, I really was not sold on Dach. But I must say he is really impressive and can get better and better. Great that the Habs don't need Romanov anymore with all their good rookies performing well on D. And their three solid vets they have with Savard, Edmundson and soon, Matheson.

 

[Hope Of Glory]

Who knew that trading for skilled players would lead to a fun team to watch. Great trade so far, let's see how the rest of the season plays out.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He's proving me wrong which is great. I need to see it for an entire season though. He's playing great right now. I worry he will go back to his previous ways.

yeah I was pretty agnostic about the trade except I was suspicious that such a crazy talent could be had for a fairly cheap price.

I didn't know enough about him to have a real opinion on the move. So I see nothing wrong in waiting and seeing.

 

[NobleSix]

Thievery

 

[rik schau]

Kudos to Dach for making the first line, and true FIRST line!!!
The trio has been awesome since MSL decided to put them together.

He sure has elevated that line.