Kirby Dach<\/a> signing, a move that has not been unanimously praised in Montreal.<\/p>\nThe Canadiens officially signed the injury-plagued forward to a one-year contract. It puts an end to weeks of speculation surrounding his future.<\/p>\n
Mike Veenie, however, doesn’t understand the criticism. According to the analyst, the Canadiens simply did what they had to do.<\/p>\n
“You don’t let assets walk for nothing. He either starts the season in the bottom 6, or he is traded.<\/p>\n
Not qualifying him would have been a waste. I don’t know what anybody could be mad about here.”<\/p>\n
In his view, not qualifying Kirby Dach would have been a complete waste.<\/p>\n
He sees two very specific paths moving forward.<\/p>\n
Either he starts the season in the bottom six, or he’s traded, Veenie summarized.<\/p>\n
It’s hard to disagree with him on that point.<\/p>\n
Not Qualifying Kirby Dach Would Have Been a Waste, According to Veenie<\/p>\n
The logic is easy to defend.<\/p>\n
By keeping him, the Canadiens retain the full value of a young forward who could eventually bring back an asset, especially if he gets off to a strong start this season.<\/p>\n
The alternative would have been much worse.<\/p>\n
Letting him walk without any compensation would have meant losing an asset for nothing in return.<\/p>\n
Now the hope is simply that he bounces back.<\/p>\n
After recording 15 points in 37 games last season, Dach has to prove he’s capable of much more.<\/p>\n
The circumstances are also pushing him to perform.<\/p>\n
A contract year, with unrestricted free agency getting closer, will certainly put added pressure on him to deliver a strong season.<\/p>\n
And if it doesn’t work out, a trade will still be an option. It’s now up to Dach to turn this one-year contract into a springboard rather than a dead end.<\/p>\n
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics<\/p>\n
POLL<\/p>\n
11 HOURS AGO|230 ANSWERS<\/p>\n
Confirmed move for Hughes and the Canadiens up front: ‘Letting him walk would have been a waste’<\/p>\n
Did the Canadiens Make the Right Call by Qualifying Kirby Dach Instead of Letting Him Walk?<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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