Player Discussion Kirby Dach: Welcome to Montreal

[Legend123]

Not too confident that this trade works out. The 13oa is too rich for me for dach. But I prefer dach over Romanov. Never really saw the allure in him after his rookie season. Lack of offense with bad defense don't translate too well.

 

[BLONG7]

Not too confident that this trade works out. The 13oa is too rich for me for dach. But I prefer dach over Romanov. Never really saw the allure in him after his rookie season. Lack of offense with bad defense don't translate too well.

MSL will be great for this kid too
Confidence and the right coaching changed the world for Caufield and it will for Dach too
The habs are now moving forward with a plan to better develop these kids
Moving on from clown choices and behaviors by guys like Therrien Bergevin Sly etc

Surely you guys see this happening to the organization also?
Better days ahead folks

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

The only iffy part is his mangled wrist. That thing is screwed up. If he fully recovers from it im not worried.

Slaf-Dach-Anderson line?

 

[HomaridII]

NHL Pro Scout: ‘Marty May Be The Best Thing To Happen For Dach’

Kirby Dach is ready to find his potential with the Montreal Canadiens and Martin St. Louis could be the perfect coach to light the fire under him. Many around the NHL believe more ‘fire’ is the only thing missing for the third overall pick from the 2019 NHL Draft. “Look, I love this kid and […]

montrealhockeynow.com

 

[shamrun]

Maybe? He didn’t want to come here? Ever think of that?

Doubt it. he looked shocked after falling down to fourth. But you might be right as well.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Interesting trade! Sucks to loose Romanov but we are deep at LD. Dach is basically going through Lafreniere type development years but with a wrist injury setting him back.

Dach and Suzuki up the middle? Has massive potential to be a real force!

Big body that skates well and he’s got skill. Only thing missing is surrounding him with more talent and more maturity. MSL will groom him well IMO

Bridge deal similar to Chytil? 2/3 years around $2.5M?

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

The thing too was before the wrist injury, Dach was already showing his potential in the NHL. He’s just been set back by the injury. I’m not too worried about the injury. Yes it looked gruesome but the bone healed and he was confident enough to get into fights with it so can’t be tooo bad. It wasn’t like tendons were sliced which is way worse was just a nasty break that he’s 18 months removed from now.

 

[Nedved]

We have a position strenght???????

yes, back up goalie, with price as the starter.

 

[durojean]

He's 6'4 (close to 6'5), can skate, great dressing room guy / leader, right hand center and pass first guy. Can be a prick on the ice at times, but not enough in my opinion. Not an overly physical guy for his size, but uses his body very well and has a good active stick. Very good defensively. In junior he played all situations, PP/PK/ES. With Chicago he played "behind" Dylan Strome & Jonathon Toews, both whom average over 17 minutes of ice-time, but surprisingly Dach came in around 18 minutes with virtually NO PP time, yet scored 26 points (Compared to 48 for Strome & 37 for Toews). The year before Dach had 10 points in 18 games.

He's only 21 as well. I don't get the Kotkaniemi comparisons as other than age they are two very different players. In his first three seasons in Montreal, KK played extremely sheltered minutes (around 13-14 a game), Dach has not and was Chicago's most used center last year.

Dach is also a more cerebral player than KK, and already has the defensive game to keep playing higher minutes. The difference in Montreal is that he'll be doing so with actual scoring wingers now / top 6 minutes and no need to be protected on the ice, either physically or defensively like KK was.

I think if you give the guy until Christmas, many opinions will be changed watching this guy day to day. I think Montreal could use a 21 year old, huge right shot center with a great makeup / leadership who chips in 40-50 points a year and can play in all situations behind Suzuki.

Time will tell.

You know that he played most of his minutes with Kane and Debrincat ? How are they not scoring wingers ?

 

[Wats]

You know that he played most of his minutes with Kane and Debrincat ? How are they not scoring wingers ?

This is what bothers me most about Dach, he actually got minutes, linemates, and powerplay time. At least for Kotkaniemi, we can't really say that.

 

[morhilane]

You know that he played most of his minutes with Kane and Debrincat ? How are they not scoring wingers ?

Strome played x3 the amount of time with Kane and Debrincat than Dach did last season (according to Frozentool line tool) and they have similar 5v5 total TOI over the entire season. How does that work?

 

[HuGort]

Habs may re-start Dach's development. Play him on third line with vets. At least until trade deadline then trade Dvorak

 

[WeThreeKings]

This is what bothers me most about Dach, he actually got minutes, linemates, and powerplay time. At least for Kotkaniemi, we can't really say that.

It also has to be noted that Dach more than held his own when sheltered with the likes of DeBrincat and Kane, but could not tread water outside of a top-six role. The last half of the 2021-22 season was especially rough for Dach. Playing mostly with Brandon Hagel or Sam Lafferty, Dach was a -13 (13 GF, 30 GA) at 5-on-5, compared to the first half of the year when he was an even (20 GF, 20 GA) top-six contributor.

Dach has also underperformed his expected goal tallies, with xG models indicating that he should have tallied almost 60% more goals than he actually did. Whether this is a product of poor utilization, bad positioning, or actual hands of stone remains to be seen, Look at Artturi Lehkonen who serves as an example of how a change of scenery can translate to a boost in goal scoring. Kent Hughes is likely hoping for something similar.

Can the Canadiens’ new development team unlock Kirby Dach’s potential?

Dach has had an underwhelming NHL career so far, but is there more for him to show in Montreal?

www.habseyesontheprize.com

 

[NORiculous]

How much you think Dach will make with his new deal?

2,5 M ?

 

[ArtPeur]

It also has to be noted that Dach more than held his own when sheltered with the likes of DeBrincat and Kane, but could not tread water outside of a top-six role. The last half of the 2021-22 season was especially rough for Dach. Playing mostly with Brandon Hagel or Sam Lafferty, Dach was a -13 (13 GF, 30 GA) at 5-on-5, compared to the first half of the year when he was an even (20 GF, 20 GA) top-six contributor.

Dach has also underperformed his expected goal tallies, with xG models indicating that he should have tallied almost 60% more goals than he actually did. Whether this is a product of poor utilization, bad positioning, or actual hands of stone remains to be seen, Look at Artturi Lehkonen who serves as an example of how a change of scenery can translate to a boost in goal scoring. Kent Hughes is likely hoping for something similar.

Can the Canadiens’ new development team unlock Kirby Dach’s potential?

Dach has had an underwhelming NHL career so far, but is there more for him to show in Montreal?

www.habseyesontheprize.com

Lehkonen didn't have any injury problem though, got more ice time (especially on the PP) and he got better linemates in his new team. Dach will likely have less ice time and lesser linemates (ironically similar to Lehk's time here). Has he ever played a "QB" role on the PP? I don't know where he's gonna fit with the players we currently have there as Suzuki and Dvorak will be the main centers.

 

[Habs Halifax]

If they really believe in him they should give him a long extension right off the bat.

If they manage to work with him and help him reach his potential it would be a bargain of a deal in a couple of years.

KK deal?

How much you think Dach will make with his new deal?

2,5 M ?

His stats are close to Chytil on the Rangers. I’ll say 3 years at $2.5M - $2.75M range. Gives him time to develop well and then cash in on the next deal with 2 RFA years left.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Lehkonen didn't have any injury problem though, got more ice time (especially on the PP) and he got better linemates in his new team. Dach will likely have less ice time and lesser linemates (ironically similar to Lehk's time here). Has he ever played a "QB" role on the PP? I don't know where he's gonna fit with the players we currently have there as Suzuki and Dvorak will be the main centers.

The goal is to develop him into a 2C.

Yes, he's played a QB role on the PP, mainly in juniors. I think he's more of a half-wall or a down-low guy, he's a puck distributor but he's got good hands to deflect and score quickly around the net as well.

Dvorak isn't here long term and will be the match-up center. I would expect season 1 with the Habs will be all about growing his offensive game, which means he will be the 3rd center, get an exploitation role with offensive players (think Dadonov and someone else) and be given a lot of powerplay time.

 

[1909]

The price was too high to acquire him. He is a huge project.

Play him on a 3rd line with Gally and Dadonov.

 

[DrBizz4r3]

So after his rookie season, he went back to jr during covid to go to the WJC, got hurt vs Russia then struggled last year.

Why is the main narrative about being rushed instead of this major injury?

Oh f***! It’s a Colles fracture… It can produce long-lasting symptoms of reduction of range of motion, adhesion of tendons or chronic pain… not the best fracture in the wrist for an athlete (hockey)

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

The price was too high to acquire him.

Basically Romanov and two late round picks for Dach, a 3OA from 3 years ago. Nothing egregious there

 

[lamp9post]

Have we started the KK vs Dach discussions yet?

Both centres, former 3rd overall picks, both were arguably rushed to the NHL at 18. Both had their struggles in their first three years. Both were acquired by their new team in exchange for a 1st + 3rd.

Dach cost the higher picks, but likley to sign a more team-friendly contract.

Who would you take going forward?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Have we started the KK vs Dach discussions yet?

Both centres, former 3rd overall picks, both were arguably rushed to the NHL at 18. Both had their struggles in their first three years. Both were acquired by their new team in exchange for a 1st + 3rd.

Dach cost the higher picks, but likley to sign a more team-friendly contract.

Who would you take going forward?

Dach, they're not even the same class of prospect.

 

[Hacketts]

Oh f***! It’s a Colles fracture… It can produce long-lasting symptoms of reduction of range of motion, adhesion of tendons or chronic pain… not the best fracture in the wrist for an athlete (hockey)

"How long does it take for a Colles fracture to heal? You'll wear a cast for about six weeks. Healing time varies from individual to individual — it's a shorter time for some patients and a longer time for others. It might be a year before your wrist is completely back to the way it was before the fracture."

Blackhawks had him playing 3 months later.

 

[OldCraig71]

The only iffy part is his mangled wrist. That thing is screwed up. If he fully recovers from it im not worried.

Slaf-Dach-Anderson line?

That line will have to be the third line or else they will get exploited terribly by higher lines. Josh Anderson just skates fast but positionally he is terrible and I doubt that the two kids will be able to cover for him. There is a reason why Columbus gave up and we are now entertaining trade offers for Anderson.

 

[lamp9post]

Dach, they're not even the same class of prospect.

Yeah, he was 3rd OA in a strong draft while KK was a reach at 3rd in a weaker draft. Yet KK has produced more in his first 3 years, even accounting for injuries.

I agree that Dach has the higher ceiling...and likely won't have a terrible contract.