Montreal Canadiens: Details Emerging About Potential Kirby Dach Contract

The Montreal Canadiens were the talk of the NHL Draft long before it began. But a series of moves early on in the proceedings ensured we will be looking back and judging their decisions in the 2022 NHL Draft for the next decade.

First of all, the team hosted the draft, and learned a month in advance that they would hold the first overall pick. Speculation ran wild leading up to the date on whether it would be Shane Wright or Juraj Slafkovsky selected first overall.

Consensus showed Shane Wright as the logical choice, but the team went another direction, taking Slafkovsky, the big Slovakian left winger, with the first choice. It wasn’t their last surprising move of the day.

Shortly after, the team would make a series of moves that resulted in Alexander Romanov heading to the New York Islanders and Kirby Dach becoming a member of the Canadiens. Formerly of the Chicago Blackhawks, Dach was a third overall pick in 2018, but hadn’t broken out with the Hawks in three years.

Having scored just 19 goals and 59 points in 152 career games so far, a short term bridge contract has been expected. But, a recent report suggests the Canadiens may be ready to commit a little more long term to their new centre.

Canadiens insider Eric Engels reported on Sportsnet that he expects the team and player to agree to a contract in the four-year range with an annual cap hit of about $3.5 million.

If those terms sound familiar, that is the same as the last contract that Lars Eller signed with the team. Dach and Eller aren’t perfect comparables, but Dach has already shown he could be a great penalty killer, and if he can become a trusted two-way centre for the third line, the contract would be fine.

The bonus is, the 21 year old Canadiens forward has the potential to be much more than just a good penalty killer and third liner. He has the size, skill, hands and creativity to be a top six fixture for the team for a long time. If he is able to reach his potential that made him a third overall pick, it won’t be long before he is worth much, much more.

The Canadiens appear ready to gamble that Dach is going to break out and be an impact player. If he comes close to his potential, a $3.5 million cap hit would become a bargain in a very short time.

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