The Montreal Canadiens have dealt with their fair share of injuries over the past few seasons, and unfortunately, Kirby Dach has often been at the centre of that storyline. The talented forward was expected to play a key role in Montreal’s long-term plans down the middle, but another injury has once again put his future into question. With the offseason approaching and Dach set to become a restricted free agent, the Canadiens may soon have a difficult decision to make.
Another Injury for Dach
Dach’s latest setback came on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks. During the game, he was involved in a collision with Ducks forward Jeffrey Viel and was forced to leave the game following the contact. While the full extent of the injury is still being evaluated, the incident immediately raised concern given Dach’s recent injury history.
This marks the second injury Dach has suffered this season. Earlier in the year, the 25-year-old missed a significant amount of time after suffering a fractured foot, which sidelined him for weeks and disrupted what many hoped would be a bounce-back campaign. The Canadiens had been hoping Dach could regain momentum after returning to the lineup, but this latest injury once again halts his progress.
For a player with Dach’s skill set, these repeated interruptions are particularly frustrating. When healthy, he brings size, puck protection, and playmaking ability. At 6-foot-4, he has the tools to be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams and a valuable contributor in Montreal’s top six. However, availability is often the most important ability in the NHL, and that is where Dach’s situation becomes complicated.
A Familiar Story
As unfortunate as it may sound, Dach’s latest injury feels like a familiar storyline. Since joining the Canadiens in 2022, he has shown flashes of the player Montreal hoped he could become, but injuries have consistently prevented him from establishing long-term consistency.
In fact, Dach has never played more than 60 games in a single season with the Canadiens. Each year has been interrupted by some form of injury, limiting both his production and his ability to develop chemistry with his teammates. Looking at his entire NHL career, the pattern continues. Dach has only played one season with more than 70 games, which came early in his career. Since then, injuries have repeatedly forced him out of the lineup for extended stretches.
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For a rebuilding team trying to establish stability down the middle, that type of uncertainty can become a major challenge. The Canadiens have invested time and patience in Dach’s development, hoping he could eventually solidify a long-term role in the top six. But as the seasons pass and the injuries continue to pile up, questions naturally begin to surface.
A Tough Decision This Summer
Those questions could become especially important this offseason. Dach is set to become a restricted free agent, meaning the Canadiens will technically retain control over his rights. However, qualifying him would require the team to extend a qualifying offer worth approximately $4 million.
That number may force Montreal’s management to take a long look at the situation. Is Dach worth a $4 million commitment given his injury history? The talent is clearly there, but the lack of durability makes the decision far from straightforward. The Canadiens must evaluate whether the upside still outweighs the risk.
One option would be for Kent Hughes to simply not qualify Dach, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. While that would free the Canadiens from the qualifying offer requirement, it would also mean potentially losing a talented player for nothing.
Another possibility would be exploring the trade market. If another team still believes in Dach’s upside, Montreal could attempt to move him before the NHL Draft and recoup some value rather than risking another injury-filled season.
Of course, the Canadiens could also choose to stay patient. Dach is still relatively young, and if he can finally put together a healthy season, he could still become the impactful player Montreal envisioned when they acquired him. But patience comes with risk, especially for a team that appears to be entering a more competitive phase of its rebuild.
At some point, the Canadiens will have to decide whether Dach’s potential is still worth the uncertainty that comes with it. And after another season impacted by injuries, that decision may be more difficult than ever.
