{"id":817417,"date":"2026-07-21T23:59:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T23:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/817417\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T23:59:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T23:59:19","slug":"zurkowsky-dach-contract-no-ringing-endorsement-for-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/817417\/","title":{"rendered":"Zurkowsky: Dach contract no ringing endorsement for future"},"content":{"rendered":"

One part of the Kirby Dach equation was answered last week, when the Canadiens and the frequently-injured forward agreed to a one-year, US$3.6-million contract<\/a>, avoiding a potential sticky arbitration case.<\/p>\n

But, despite the signing, there remain more questions than answers moving forward.<\/p>\n

The biggest? Will Dach still be with the team come Sept. 29, when the Canadiens launch their regular season at Toronto<\/a>? While that seems likely, will he still be with Montreal come next season\u2019s March trade deadline? Or will he be part of a bigger package required for the Canadiens to acquire that coveted second-line centre or top-six forward?<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I feel bad for Kirby Dach, the injuries he has had,\u201d said Chris Nilan, a regular contributor to The Gazette\u2019s Hockey Inside\/Out show. \u201cIt has been difficult for him. It\u2019s bad enough one knee injury, then getting two.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have all those injuries that can play in your head. I think it has a little bit with him. You\u2019re a bit more guarded. You\u2019re (not playing) as free as you once were. When you dominate in junior and you\u2019re that big \u2026 remember Doug Wickenheiser? He dominated in junior, but with guys (in the NHL) that were relatively the same size and it was a bit of a struggle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can they do with (Dach?). Until they can replace that, he\u2019ll probably be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Canadiens'Canadiens\u2019 Kirby Dach heads to the bench after getting clipped by a teammate\u2019s stick during game at the Bell Centre this past April. John Mahoney \/ Montreal Gazette<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, this undoubtedly is Dach\u2019s last chance with the Canadiens<\/a> \u2014\u00a0the organization that acquired him in a July 7, 2022 trade from Chicago for a pair of draft choices that year, including a first-round pick acquired earlier that day from the N.Y. Islanders for Alexander Romanov. And now, the future is up to the 6-foot-4, 221-pounder, who is still only 25.<\/p>\n

The Canadiens have remained patient with Dach throughout his frequent injuries \u2014\u00a0two knee surgeries and a fractured foot to begin with \u2014\u00a0over his four years with the team. Dach has missed 174 of a possible 328 regular-season games. It doesn\u2019t take a math genius to realize Dach has missed more games than he has played.<\/p>\n

And his production has hardly been staggering. <\/p>\n

In his first season with Montreal, Dach played 58 games \u2014\u00a0his high-water mark with Montreal \u2014\u00a0scoring 14 goals and 24 assists. Last season, limited to 37 games, Dach produced eight goals and 15 points.<\/p>\n

Head coach Martin St. Louis continues displaying confidence in the Blackhawks\u2019 2019 third-overall draft choice. Most recently, that occurred during after the second game of the opening round of the playoffs against Tampa Bay, when Dach\u2019s lazy icing call resulted in an unnecessary faceoff deep in Montreal\u2019s zone. Compounding matters, Dach failed to cover his man on the ensuing faceoff, allowing J.J. Moser to score the winning goal in overtime.<\/p>\n

Despite widespread criticism that Dach should be made a healthy scratch in game 3, St. Louis stuck with him and Dach scored a goal and assist in the next game<\/a>. While Dach scored four goals and added an assist in 19 playoff games, he had been reduced to a fourth-line winger role by the end of the Canadiens\u2019 post-season run against Carolina.<\/p>\n

Over his final nine playoff games, Dach was held without a point and had a plus\/minus goal differential of minus-7. He registered no shots over his last four games against the Hurricanes. <\/p>\n

That could be one of the many reasons the Canadiens tendered him a two-way qualifying offer \u2014\u00a0US$4 million at the NHL level but considerably less in the minors, forcing Dach to file for arbitration. If that doesn\u2019t serve as a wake-up call, nothing will.<\/p>\n

Fast players eventually lose their speed, but big players never get small. Dach\u2019s problem is that, despite his size, he often doesn\u2019t play big and appears aloof at times.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a consistency thing,\u201d TSN analyst Frankie Corrado<\/a> said. \u201cWhen he does it, it\u2019s noticeable. When he doesn\u2019t, it\u2019s just as noticeable in the wrong way. I think it\u2019s more of a frequency thing than a hardness thing. I also wonder how much of that has to do with injuries? It\u2019s counterintuitive. The more you think about it and calculate yourself around the ice, the more likely you\u2019re going to get hurt. You have to be instinctual.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still do think he has a future with them because, what\u2019s the alternative? You could not have Kirby Dach and say it\u2019s not going to work. You have to get someone who\u2019s better. Who\u2019s out there who\u2019s better you can acquire? If he\u2019s healthy \u2014\u00a0and that\u2019s a big if \u2014\u00a0he\u2019s a good player. If you could find a surefire upgrade you\u2019d do it. I just don\u2019t know if that exists at the moment in the way their summer signings went.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s often amazing what players produce on the ice in the final year of their contract, as Dach will be before he\u2019s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.<\/p>\n

Anthony Mantha \u2014\u00a0a player some thought the Canadiens might target this summer \u2014\u00a0scored a career-high 33 goals and 64 points with Pittsburgh last season in the final year of his deal. He recently signed a two-year, US$9.5-million free-agent contract, almost doubling the US$2.5-million cap hit he had with the Penguins.<\/p>\n

If Dach were to finally stay healthy and play to his potential this season, it would certainly increase his value and make him a potential bargaining chip in any trade the Habs would consider.<\/p>\n

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com<\/p>\n

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