Scott Wheeler in the Athletic revisited the 2019 draft rankings and wrote this about Dach
11. Arizona Coyotes: C Kirby Dach
Actual draft pick: No. 3 (change: -8) to Chicago
My final ranking: No. 8 (change: -3)
We’ve all seen the flash in Dach. The ability, in spurts, to make a play happen through the middle of the ice, with that big frame of his, that makes you go “huh, so that’s why they picked him third.” Three years later, a defence of the Dach pick would also posit that he’s third in the draft class in scoring thus far behind Hughes and Zegras with 59 points (one more than Kakko in five fewer games). But there has been too much space between those moments, where he just looks ordinary. He’ll get every opportunity to change that in Montreal, and maybe he’ll run with it and become the 2C behind Suzuki now that they passed on
Shane Wright for
Juraj Slafkovsky. It’s certainly not going to be
Christian Dvorak or
Jake Evans long term. But I’m not convinced. I don’t see what that next gear looks like for him. He’s big, and he moves fairly well, and he’s got the touch to make those plays, but I often find myself watching him and wonder where that single, defining quality is that will carry him. I felt that way in his draft year and I feel that way now. He’s going to be a good middle-six player, I’d wager. I’d be surprised if he
really runs with the baton in Montreal, though.”
Not super promising
