Player Discussion Kirby Dach: Welcome to Montreal part 2

[Goalfield13]

Xhekaj’s height and reach but a 240 lb beast really helps.

Romy’s a beaut but what do you do long term? Have Romanov on your 3rd pairing?

Xhekaj is a bottom pairing D, my friend. I don't think he will ever be better than Romanov.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Xhekaj is a bottom pairing D, my friend. I don't think he will ever be better than Romanov.

And if you read what I wrote I never said otherwise lol.

My point has always been Romanov would be behind Guhle and Hutson on the left side.

Romanov had the better trade value than Xhekaj does and Xhekaj doesn’t get us Dach.

So would I trade Xhekaj for Romanov straight up? I don’t think I would. NOT because Xhekaj is better. I will repeat it 30 times if I have to. It’s because he brings elements we lack more. That’s all

 

[OldCraig71]

Xhekaj is a bottom pairing D, my friend. I don't think he will ever be better than Romanov.

He's more in the mold of a Ben Chiarot, I agree that Romanov is a better defender though.

 

[26Mats]

And if you read what I wrote I never said otherwise lol.

My point has always been Romanov would be behind Guhle and Hutson on the left side.

Romanov had the better trade value than Xhekaj does and Xhekaj doesn’t get us Dach.

So would I trade Xhekaj for Romanov straight up? I don’t think I would. NOT because Xhekaj is better. I will repeat it 30 times if I have to. It’s because he brings elements we lack more. That’s all

Xhekaj's going to need to be a good defender though to hold his value. He can't be a liability defensively because he brings policing. We can get a policeman for the 4th line. His value now is based on his potential to both be able to play a regular shift and be one of the best policemen in the league.

Either way, hopefully Olivier replaces Pez next year.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Agree we need to give him time.

But I think we also should treat it like 2nd line center is a hole that needs filling. We can bring in somebody else and still keep Dach. Because if Dach doesn't find his game, we're really up the creek. Coming into this year I said so much depended on him being 'the guy' on the second line. He's crapped out (not necessarily his fault) and it's really hurt us. We need help there.

Keep him. Let him find his game. But depending on him going forward is a mistake in my opinion. Quarter into the season and he's been pretty bad. How long do we wait for him to find his game before getting another center? Might as well get one anyway.

I wouldn't depend on anyone for anything. You gotta keep proving you're the guy. Not gonna not go after a 1st line center who becomes available just because we have Suzuki for example.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It’s hole-ish lol. To me anyways.

Beck being a #2 isn’t out of the question. Maybe not the most drool worthy option but he could easily end up being a damn good one honestly.

Hage arguably has the raw upside Suzuki had at the same time. No guarantees he’ll be as good obviously but easily #2 upside.

I’m not objecting to drafting one with a high pick but to me the biggest hole is RD. Reinbacher and Mailloux could end up being great and more than enough but they’re AT LEAST as question mark-y as Dach and there is NO ONE besides Barron to back them up.

For me the C situation is far better than the RD situation

Hole-ish is fine. But we can’t depend on Dach and assume he’ll be the guy. I thought he would be. He still might be. But….

 

[ChikN]

I thought he looked better yesterday. Hopefully he builds on it.

 

[Habssince89]

Someone in the danault mold is fine as a stopgap 2C with hage in the pipeline, and then hopefully that C can get pushed down to 3C.

Just one decent centre stabilizes the lineup immensely. Hopefully Hughes can get one so we don't hurt development. As much as I don't like the current state of our centres, the wings are full. Plugging the hole at C would really let our strength at wing shine.

 

[26Mats]

Someone in the danault mold is fine as a stopgap 2C with hage in the pipeline, and then hopefully that C can get pushed down to 3C.

Just one decent centre stabilizes the lineup immensely. Hopefully Hughes can get one so we don't hurt development. As much as I don't like the current state of our centres, the wings are full. Plugging the hole at C would really let our strength at wing shine.

that's why for sure Monahan would have been good at least for the next 2 to 3 years, not sure about years 4 and 5 of a 5 year deal. Plus he's good on the wing (at least for now at his current age).

 

[JianYang]

What;s annoying about these discussions is the revisionist history. Folks seeing how Dach is playing now and pretending that this is how he played in 2022, which is just plain false. None of the descriptors of current Dach were used two years ago. Hell they weren't even used in THIS pre-season. So to say that he was always this way is pure narrative convenience.

I am personally shocked at how different Dach 2024 looks from Dach 2022. Two completely different players. In 2022 he was winning board battles, threading needles, carrying the puck from end-to-end, gaining the o-zone with ease.

Now he can't even hold the puck for more than a second without losing it or making a bad play. Something is off.

You hit the nail on the button. I would remember commenting on how much I liked dach's ability to hold the puck and buy time for himself.... the way he could use that to survey his options.

Now he loses any 50/50 puck and if he doea happen to get the puck, he will lose it or make a poor decision and he's definitely not hanging on to it anymore.

That sounds to me alot like it's a mental issue more than anything else, and I still have hope that he will overcome it without requiring another change of scenery.

 

[BozoTheClown]

Some of it earned, some of it not.

He got a minus last night and he did his job perfectly.

He's had two of his better games back at center in awhile, I don't think I'd sit him at this point, he did have a couple really nice passes as well yesterday.

On the Columbus 3rd goal he battled Monahan like a little bitch in front of the goal. Hutson tries harder and he is a foot shorter and 50 pounds lighter.

Amazing! He made nice passes against Columbus! Wow!
He looked absolutely awful the 5 games prior to yesterday.

Going from 10% effort to 35% effort is is not what a call “ doing his job perfectly “
Is this satisfying to you and the kind of standards you want to hold the player to?


Until he shows up and puts the effort on a consistent basis, which means 50 of the next 60 games, I will call him out every single time.

I strongly believe our scouting staff f***ed this up. I will have no problem admitting I was wrong, actually it would be better for the team if I was.

 

[BLONG7]

You hit the nail on the button. I would remember commenting on how much I liked dach's ability to hold the puck and buy time for himself.... the way he could use that to survey his options.

Now he loses any 50/50 puck and if he doea happen to get the puck, he will lose it or make a poor decision and he's definitely not hanging on to it anymore.

That sounds to me alot like it's a mental issue more than anything else, and I still have hope that he will overcome it without requiring another change of scenery.

Amazing when a pro athlete lose their confidence. Dach needs to get his head out of his a$$, watch some video of some of his better games, and get on with things, or he is going to be playing for SJ or Anaheim real soon...................maybe the warm weather will suit him, who knows.

This kid has size and talent, and better get his head on soon..............unbelievable how bad he has been the last 10 games. I know the injury issue is huge, but he has been so poor on the effort side of things, even people who like the kid have to be pi$$ed off with him

 

[Andy]

my guess is that Dach was super tentative coming back from injury. He probably didn’t want to get hurt again, so toned down his aggressivity.

Pre-season being what it is, and his success this pre-season probably gave him a false sense of confidence of being able to produce while playing a safer game.

As a result, he got into a habit of playing passive and tentative. But nhl comp is different than pre-season and Dach is playing catch up after developing bad habits.

He’s successful when he’s playing dangerously. That will open him up to injury which he’s probably looking to avoid and this is where we are at.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I wouldn't depend on anyone for anything. You gotta keep proving you're the guy. Not gonna not go after a 1st line center who becomes available just because we have Suzuki for example.

Yeah, but we came into this season thinking we had a 2nd line center. Now I'm not so sure. It's more acute than just stockpiling centers. We have an acutal NEED there right now.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Xhekaj's going to need to be a good defender though to hold his value. He can't be a liability defensively because he brings policing. We can get a policeman for the 4th line. His value now is based on his potential to both be able to play a regular shift and be one of the best policemen in the league.

Either way, hopefully Olivier replaces Pez next year.

Of course. If he’s a net negative defending then he’s useless.

 

[CHwest]

my guess is that Dach was super tentative coming back from injury. He probably didn’t want to get hurt again, so toned down his aggressivity.

Pre-season being what it is, and his success this pre-season probably gave him a false sense of confidence of being able to produce while playing a safer game.

As a result, he got into a habit of playing passive and tentative. But nhl comp is different than pre-season and Dach is playing catch up after developing bad habits.

He’s successful when he’s playing dangerously. That will open him up to injury which he’s probably looking to avoid and this is where we are at.

I think this take is pretty accurate, I feel for him as it cannot be a good feeling, thinking about his finish 2 seasons ago and where he is now. I still have faith that he will be an impact player.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Yeah, but we came into this season thinking we had a 2nd line center. Now I'm not so sure. It's more acute than just stockpiling centers. We have an acutal NEED there right now.

Agree. We need centers until we don't anymore. Right now we have one good one.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Agree. We need centers until we don't anymore. Right now we have one good one.

They're always a valuable commodity, if you have a chance to get them, you have to take them.. which is why I don't think Dach hitting the ground running after his injury would have changed this calculus for management. Even if Dach finds his game from where he was pre-injury, we are still an injury away from having nothing material behind them.

Kapanen and Beck are great bottom 6 options. Hage right now is the only real center prospect for the top 6 of note that isn't in the NHL. Gotta supplement that more.

 

[Leto]

Friedman was speculating on today's podcast that Dubas might target Dach for a trade. Don't think it makes sense on the Habs side.​

 

[Miller Time]

Friedman was speculating on today's podcast that Dubas might target Dach for a trade. Don't think it makes sense on the Habs side.​

If Crosby or Malkin are coming the other way, would be hard to say no.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If Crosby or Malkin are coming the other way, would be hard to say no.

Either of those guys would act as a bridge for Hage. I think Malkin would be far more likely to be available.

 

[Justsayin]

The thing a player who has been off a long time takes a long time to get back is his hands. I see that as Dach's biggest problem right now and one which, when he gets them back will make the biggest difference.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The thing a player who has been off a long time takes a long time to get back is his hands. I see that as Dach's biggest problem right now and one which, when he gets them back will make the biggest difference.

If I were an opposing team, I'd be looking to try to get Dach as a 'buy low'. He still has great potential and the cost to acquire him wouldn't be near as high as it was before he got hurt. I still think he can be a good player but we just can't sit around waiting for him. Personally, I'd avoid trading him. I think he'll bounce back at some point and imagine if he did that elsewhere.

 

[Benstheman]

Either of those guys would act as a bridge for Hage. I think Malkin would be far more likely to be available.

i don't know who would play longer at this point. Malkin or Crosby?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

i don't know who would play longer at this point. Malkin or Crosby?

I think Crosby will have more roadway.

I mean, I'd love to get Crosby. I just don't think Pittsburgh would ever let him leave and he'd be super expensive. I think Malkin would be a lot cheaper and easier to get.

But... do we even want to go that route? I don't know that we do. It'd be a nice little bridge to help us through but we might be just better off drafting high another year.