Latest news with #KirbyDach
Vancouver Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Cowan: Future is hazy for Canadiens centre Kirby Dach
Kent Hughes knew the Canadiens had a lack of depth at the centre position when he took over as GM three years ago. That's why at his first NHL Entry Draft as GM in 2022, Hughes traded a first-round pick and a third-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Kirby Dach. 'We were looking to improve, get a little bigger, faster in the middle of the ice if we could,' Hughes said after making the trade. 'There's also, in a perfect world, an age component to it so that (Dach) can grow with our young core, and certainly he fit that description for us. We knew he was available potentially, so we spent a good amount of time trying to understand who Kirby Dach was. He went third pick overall (at the 2019 NHL Draft). What's happened with Kirby Dach? Why is Chicago willing to move him? 'I've said it all along, we're going to invest money in developing hockey players and trying to get the most out of their potential, and we believe Kirby has significant potential,' Hughes added. 'We think with the Montreal Canadiens, in this environment, can bring him along and get him to a point where he can be a pretty special centreman.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Three years later, there are more questions than answers when it comes to the 24-year-old Dach. As a result, Hughes will head into this off-season once again looking for a second-line centre who can play behind captain Nick Suzuki, either through free agency or a trade. Dach had 10-12-22 totals and was a team-worst minus-29 before suffering a season-ending injury to his right knee that required surgery for the second straight year. He won only 40.3 per cent of his faceoffs. The top centres eligible to become free agents on July 1 are Florida's Sam Bennett, 29, Toronto's John Tavares , 34, Colorado's Brock Nelson , 33, and Dallas's Matt Duchene , 34. Their salary demands will probably be too high for the Canadiens, even if those players had any interest in coming to Montreal. A trade for a younger centreman with NHL experience seems a more likely scenario. Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens' executive vice-president of hockey operations, didn't rule out the possibility of making offer sheets to restricted free agents during a season-ending news conference last month and added he and Hughes weren't limited to looking only at centres to improve their top-six forward situation, which is a priority. The Canadiens had interest in right-winger Jonathan Marchessault as a free agent last summer, but weren't willing to offer the 34-year-old more than a three-year contract. Instead, Marchessault signed a five-year, US$27.5-million deal with Nashville that has an annual salary-cap hit of US$5.5 million and then the 5-foot-9, 185-pounder posted 21-35-56 totals with the Predators. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported last week that Marchessault is open to being traded after the Predators finished 30th in the overall NHL standings, with Montreal a favourable landing spot. But the length of Marchessault's contract must still be a concern for Hughes. Dach is heading into the final season of his contract with a US$3.36 million salary-cap hit. 'I still believe in Kirby,' Hughes said at the season-ending news conference with Gorton. 'He has so much potential as a player.' Hughes wouldn't say this is Dach's last chance with the Canadiens, but added it's a very important season for the centre and that he and the team know that. Hughes spoke with Dach during his exit meeting about the importance of him doing everything possible this summer so he can show up at training camp in the best state possible, physically and mentally. Hughes noted that constant negative comments in a hockey market like Montreal can be like 'an avalanche' for a young player who is struggling on the ice. Hughes also said the fact Dach was coming back from a serious knee injury — torn ACL and MCL ligaments in his right knee that limited him to two games in 2023-24 — can't be overlooked and pointed out that while Dach was minus-29 last season, he was minus-2 when he played 58 games during his first season with the Canadiens in 2022-23, posting 14-24-38 totals. 'Obviously, he's had two really tough years and two tough injuries here,' Gorton said about Dach. 'We're going to have to see how he responds this summer to the rehab and going through this again. But there's certainly a place for him in our lineup. It's going to be up to him where that's going to be. He has size, he's competitive, he's got skill, he's a very talented player. I think a lot is in the balance of how his summer goes, with how the rehab's going to go. We saw last year, last season, a slow start coming back from that (injury) particularly in his skating, and he'd be the first to tell you that. 'I think a lot, unfortunately, is going to be what kind of summer he has and what kind of start he has to camp,' Gorton added. 'He's going to need a big camp to get himself going and get started early.'
Ottawa Citizen
03-06-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Cowan: Future is hazy for Canadiens centre Kirby Dach
Kent Hughes knew the Canadiens had a lack of depth at the centre position when he took over as GM three years ago. Article content That's why at his first NHL Entry Draft as GM in 2022, Hughes traded a first-round pick and a third-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Kirby Dach. Article content 'We were looking to improve, get a little bigger, faster in the middle of the ice if we could,' Hughes said after making the trade. 'There's also, in a perfect world, an age component to it so that (Dach) can grow with our young core, and certainly he fit that description for us. We knew he was available potentially, so we spent a good amount of time trying to understand who Kirby Dach was. He went third pick overall (at the 2019 NHL Draft). What's happened with Kirby Dach? Why is Chicago willing to move him? Article content Article content 'I've said it all along, we're going to invest money in developing hockey players and trying to get the most out of their potential, and we believe Kirby has significant potential,' Hughes added. 'We think with the Montreal Canadiens, in this environment, can bring him along and get him to a point where he can be a pretty special centreman.' Article content Three years later, there are more questions than answers when it comes to the 24-year-old Dach. As a result, Hughes will head into this off-season once again looking for a second-line centre who can play behind captain Nick Suzuki, either through free agency or a trade. Article content Article content Dach had 10-12-22 totals and was a team-worst minus-29 before suffering a season-ending injury to his right knee that required surgery for the second straight year. He won only 40.3 per cent of his faceoffs. Article content The top centres eligible to become free agents on July 1 are Florida's Sam Bennett, 29, Toronto's John Tavares, 34, Colorado's Brock Nelson, 33, and Dallas's Matt Duchene, 34. Their salary demands will probably be too high for the Canadiens, even if those players had any interest in coming to Montreal. A trade for a younger centreman with NHL experience seems a more likely scenario. Article content Article content Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens' executive vice-president of hockey operations, didn't rule out the possibility of making offer sheets to restricted free agents during a season-ending news conference last month and added he and Hughes weren't limited to looking only at centres to improve their top-six forward situation, which is a priority. Article content The Canadiens had interest in right-winger Jonathan Marchessault as a free agent last summer, but weren't willing to offer the 34-year-old more than a three-year contract. Instead, Marchessault signed a five-year, US$27.5-million deal with Nashville that has an annual salary-cap hit of US$5.5 million and then the 5-foot-9, 185-pounder posted 21-35-56 totals with the Predators. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported last week that Marchessault is open to being traded after the Predators finished 30th in the overall NHL standings, with Montreal a favourable landing spot. But the length of Marchessault's contract must still be a concern for Hughes.
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Canadiens vs. Blackhawks April 14: Injured players, inactives, latest updates
Canadiens vs. Blackhawks April 14: Injured players, inactives, latest updates The injury report for the Montreal Canadiens (39-31-10) heading into their matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks (23-46-11) currently includes two players. The matchup starts at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 14 from Bell Centre. Stream NHL games and originals all season long on ESPN+! Canadiens vs. Blackhawks game info Date: Monday, April 14, 2025 Monday, April 14, 2025 Time: 7 p.m. ET 7 p.m. ET TV channel: ESPN+ (Watch on ESPN+ or LIVE on Fubo) ESPN+ (Watch on ESPN+ or LIVE on Fubo) Location: Montréal, Quebec Montréal, Quebec Venue: Bell Centre NHL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 9:37 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Favorite: Canadiens (-275) Canadiens (-275) Underdog: Blackhawks (+220) Blackhawks (+220) Total: 6 Canadiens injury report April 14 Kirby Dach | C (Out For Season) Injury: Lower Body Lower Body Games played: 57 57 Stats: 10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points Emil Heineman | LW (Day-To-Day) Injury: Undisclosed Undisclosed Games played: 61 61 Stats: 10 goals, 8 assists, 18 points Blackhawks injury report April 14 Laurent Brossoit | G (Out For Season) Injury: Knee Knee Games played: 0 0 Stats: 0 saves, 0-0-0 record Jason Dickinson | C (Out For Season) Injury: Wrist Wrist Games played: 59 59 Stats: 7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points Colton Dach | C (Out) Injury: Elbow Elbow Games played: 25 25 Stats: 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points Watch the NHL on Fubo!
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Canadiens vs. Predators April 6: Injured players, inactives, latest updates
Canadiens vs. Predators April 6: Injured players, inactives, latest updates Find the injury report for the Nashville Predators (27-41-8), which currently includes six players listed (including Jonathan Marchessault), as the Predators ready for their matchup against the Montreal Canadiens (37-30-9) at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday, April 6 at 7 p.m. ET. Stream NHL games and originals all season long on ESPN+! Canadiens vs. Predators game info Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025 Sunday, April 6, 2025 Time: 7 p.m. ET 7 p.m. ET TV channel: ESPN+ (Watch on ESPN+ or LIVE on Fubo) ESPN+ (Watch on ESPN+ or LIVE on Fubo) Location: Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee Venue: Bridgestone Arena NHL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 9:44 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Favorite: Canadiens (-115) Canadiens (-115) Underdog: Predators (-105) Predators (-105) Total: 6 Canadiens injury report April 6 Kirby Dach | C (Out For Season) Injury: Lower Body Lower Body Games played: 57 57 Stats: 10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points Josh Anderson | RW (Day-To-Day) Injury: Personal Personal Games played: 75 75 Stats: 14 goals, 10 assists, 24 points Predators injury report April 6 Adam Wilsby | D (Out For Season) Injury: Upper Body Upper Body Games played: 23 23 Stats: 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points Colton Sissons | C (Out) Injury: Lower Body Lower Body Games played: 72 72 Stats: 7 goals, 14 assists, 21 points Jonathan Marchessault | C (Day-To-Day) Injury: Lower Body Lower Body Games played: 73 73 Stats: 19 goals, 31 assists, 50 points Jeremy Lauzon | D (Out For Season) Injury: Lower Body Lower Body Games played: 28 28 Stats: 0 goals, 1 assists, 1 point Spencer Stastney | D (Day-To-Day) Injury: Upper Body Upper Body Games played: 22 22 Stats: 0 goals, 3 assists, 3 points Roman Josi | D (Out) Injury: Upper Body Upper Body Games played: 53 53 Stats: 9 goals, 29 assists, 38 points Watch the NHL on Fubo!
USA Today
03-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Canadiens vs. Bruins April 3: Injured players, inactives, latest updates
Canadiens vs. Bruins April 3: Injured players, inactives, latest updates The Montreal Canadiens (35-30-9) have just one player currently listed on the injury report as they ready to take on the Boston Bruins (30-36-9) on Thursday, April 3 at Bell Centre, with the puck dropping at 7 p.m. ET. Stream NHL games and originals all season long on ESPN+! Canadiens vs. Bruins game info Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025 Thursday, April 3, 2025 Time: 7 p.m. ET 7 p.m. ET TV channel: ESPN+ (Watch on ESPN+ or LIVE on Fubo) ESPN+ (Watch on ESPN+ or LIVE on Fubo) Location: Montréal, Quebec Montréal, Quebec Venue: Bell Centre NHL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Wednesday at 9:38 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Favorite: Canadiens (-190) Canadiens (-190) Underdog: Bruins (+155) Bruins (+155) Total: 5.5 Canadiens injury report April 3 Kirby Dach | C (Out For Season) Injury: Lower Body Lower Body Games played: 57 57 Stats: 10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points Bruins injury report April 3 Charlie McAvoy | D (Out) Injury: Shoulder Shoulder Games played: 50 50 Stats: 7 goals, 16 assists, 23 points Hampus Lindholm | D (Out For Season) Injury: Kneecap Kneecap Games played: 17 17 Stats: 3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points Mark Kastelic | C (Day-To-Day) Injury: Upper Body Upper Body Games played: 61 61 Stats: 5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points Watch the NHL on Fubo!
