Montreal Canadiens: Kirby Dach has potential to break out in 2022-23

Earlier this summer, the Montreal Canadiens opted to invest in a former third-overall pick in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canadiens acquired forward Kirby Dach in exchange for the no.13 pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and the team’s third-round selections as well.

The Montreal Canadiens still opted to avoid Shane Wright, who fell down the draft board, instead walking away with forward Juraj Slafkovsky, who was selected with the first overall pick. They added Dach in an effort to refresh the team’s forward core with a promising youngster who has not yet put it all together.

While Dach has spent three seasons in the NHL, he has yet to come into his own. Injuries have not been the most kind to him, but he is back on the ice and healthy, coming off of a much better 2021-22 season, health-wise.

In fact, he’s poised to receive a contract extension in the near future, as A Winning Habit’s own, Ken MacMillan, recently mentioned. After all, the Canadiens traded for him, expecting him to be around for a while.

Dach had spent three seasons with the Blackhawks before the change of scenery, but it should be good for the 21-year-old to see if he can spark a breakout. His best performance was last season, where he found the back of the net nine times, adding 17 assists for 26 total points in Chicago.

Newly acquired Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach could break out.

While the truth may be that he settles in as a third-line centre, he has a much higher ceiling. The expectation is likely for him to hover in the team’s middle-six group of forwards unless he breaks out. This is a real possibility for the former lottery pick.

Dach may have needed a change of pace, a chance to get in with a new organization and try and latch on there. He’s known to be a toolsy two-way forward who can get the job done on both ends of the ice. He has potential in the offensive zone that he may not have tapped into yet.

The ceiling for Dach could be in the team’s top-six, showing off some of the offensive prowess and skills. He’s got offensive gifts and plenty to like. As a two-way forward, he’s someone who’s going to perform well in the defensive zone.

He’s also no stranger to special teams. He’s got the potential to join both the power-play and short-handed units. While his offense needs to improve to earn sustained power-play time, the opportunity is there.

The bottom line is that the change of scenery might be a breath of fresh air that Dach needed. The Canadiens have to be hopeful that Dach can turn things around with his new squad.

The first part of Dach to get things off to a good start is performing well in the battle of the centres. The odds are in his favor, but it’s the first hurdle of the 2022-23 season for the new guy.