Kirby Dach 2.0: Names the Canadiens Could Look at this Off-Season

Last off-season, the Montreal Canadiens made headway at the draft when they traded for Kirby Dach, a move that has already paid dividends. Dach was in need of a change of scenery and a fresh start, and the Canadiens were able to provide that for him. It was the perfect move for a rebuilding franchise, adding a young talented player who still needs time to develop. Kent Hughes, the Canadiens’ GM, has hinted that they’d be open to making a similar move once again if the opportunity presents itself.

So the question is, who’s out there that could fit this bill? In order to fit the criteria, they, first and foremost, need to be young. I don’t think Kent Hughes is interested in giving up assets for veteran players. But they also need to be players that could benefit from a change of scenery, as Kirby Dach did. It’s less about wanting to leave, like Pierre-Luc Dubois, and more about running out of patience in their current home.

Today we’ll look at a few players who I believe could fit that billing. As was the case with Kirby Dach, many of them are young players with potential and, thus far, have failed to live up to it. The obvious hope is that, with the Canadiens, they can get back on track and take that next step. We saw that with Kirby Dach, who set career highs in points, assists, and goals this past season. The idea is if the Canadiens do pull the trigger, the player they acquire can do the same.