Canadiens Injuries
Canadiens Analysis: Impact Of Long-Term Kirby Dach Injury
In yet another frustrating setback for the 24-year-old forward, the Montreal Canadiens have announced Kirby Dach underwent surgery to repair his right knee.
The play that injured Dach didn’t look particular violent. Ottawa Senators forward Cole Reinhardt drove him into the boards midway through the third period of Saturday’s game, however, upon further review, Dach’s knee absorbed the brunt of the awkward contact.
btw this is what likely hurt Dach. pic.twitter.com/azD9JVT0Ai
— carina (@goalcauf) February 28, 2025
Another long-term injury will have a significant impact on the Canadiens lineup, and we’ll discuss that shortly, but the first thing that comes to mind is Dach’s mental health. He’s already missed an unreasonable amount of games since the trade that brought him to Montreal, with Friday’s announcement marking the third consecutive year in which he suffered a season-ending injury.
To make matters worse, it’s the same knee that required a surgical intervention last season.
A strong support system will be needed, seeing as being held out of action for prolonged periods is one of the most frustrating situations for any athlete, let alone an athlete that already has an unfortunate history of injuries.
Montreal Canadiens Impact
There’s some good news, or some not-so-bad news to discuss, as Dach is expected to be healthy in time for the 2025-26 season. The injury also put an end to a frustrating season in which Dach struggled to find his form.
Perhaps a complete reset will be the best path forward.
As for the impact on the team, we have to be realistic about Dach’s trajectory since arriving in Montreal. There’s no denying that he produced very encouraging numbers in the past, but those days are long gone.
Next season will represent the final year of his contract, which carries a $3,362,500 annual average value (AAV). It will give Kent Hughes and Co. another opportunity to gauge Dach’s long-term value, which is now in doubt.
It may sound harsh, but it’s time to come up with contingency plans that assume Dach won’t be available to the team as early as next year. Even if he completely recovers, it’s doubtful he’ll ever regain his pre-injury form, as knee issues tend to severely impact mobility.
The injury should also lead to an uptick in ice time for prospects such as Owen Beck. He’s always hungry for more, knows how to win face offs, and has a penchant for quickly driving the play up the ice. His sense of urgency has been a welcome addition to the current Canadiens lineup, representing a stark contrast to Dach’s more relaxed style of play.
Owen Beck’s first NHL point!
He drives the net, takes the hit, outworks his opponent.
Classic Beck.
Newhook with the goal, Laine with the other assist. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/okw8iOp4hb
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) February 28, 2025
Trade Deadline And AHL Playoffs
The situation is further complicated by the upcoming NHL Trade Deadline, set for March 7. Several teams have called the Canadiens to inquire about a possible trade involving Jake Evans and Joel Armia, but now that the Habs have lost Dach for the remainder of the season, there’s a chance Hughes will reconsider trading Evans, a veteran centre.
In that same vein, the Laval Rocket are gearing up for a lengthy run in the AHL playoffs, with hopes of capturing a Calder Cup, adding another wrinkle to the mix. Pilfering an AHL team due to a lack of warm bodies in the NHL is par for the course, but it’s far from ideal when we consider the importance of exposing prospects to a winning environment.
Of course, the Montreal Canadiens will always take precedence over the Laval Rocket, which means there’s a chance we will end up seeing Jared Davidson in the NHL to plug some of the holes left behind by injuries and trades.
He may not be the most discussed Canadiens prospect, but I’d argue he’s among the most entertaining, while also possesssing the type of skill set necessary to flourish in a bottom-six NHL role.
If Dach’s NHL career is not now finished the next injury should complete the cycle. He is an injury waiting to happen. Kirby, good luck with your future career – hope it works out better than your hockey career
I’m not yet ready to give up hope on Dach. I’m certainly less optimistic than in the past, but he’s still young enough that he could have a lengthy career moving forward. Perhaps life as a winger might end up being his destiny rather than our 2C. This latest injury definitely gives us bargaining leverage again with Dach, so we could still sign him for a cheap “show me” deal the next time around, which could turn into a home run if he bounces back and the cap climbs as predicted. If not, and he continues to be plagued by injury issues, a small cap hit during a rapidly rising cap era, will barely be felt. I really hope for the guy’s sake that he can finally catch a break. Having said that, it definitely would be prudent to have a plan B in place. Eventually, Hage is likely to be that guy, but he won’t be ready next season yet. We’re already going to lose Evans and Dvorak by the deadline or this summer, so losing Dach too, would mean bringing in 3 new centres for 2025-2026. That sounds like a recipe for a step backwards next season if you ask me. I was already expecting us to possibly stumble a bit next season with so many vets going out the door, to potentially be replaced by a bunch of rookies (even with the addition of Demidov). It took years for guys like Evans and Armia to learn their craft and contribute as they have. It’s unfair and impractical to expect a first year kid to step right into the best league in the world and immediately pick up where those guys left off. I believe we’ll be able to score our way out of a bunch of situations next year, but even with another season of maturity from our D kids, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if we actually were worse defensively next year. I’m intrigued to see how HuGo navigate the next 6 months.
As stated above, Evans may not truly be done under the circumstances. Unless of course Hughes can work some other magic to bring in another young center which wouldn’t surprise me. Same with Dvorak.
In fact I’d go so far as to say moving those two now would be very bad for the team’s morale as it would suggest the Habs are throwing in the towel on the season
Everyone seems to keep forgetting how young Dach is! Give the kid a break! Remember how much time Markov lost with knee injuries and yet he came back and finished his career quite strongly, and knee surgery and recovery technology is far better than it was back then!
As long as the Habs continue to support Dach and keep him strong mentally, I think as suggested above this will give him a chance to re-set and come back stronger next year!
Like my first sentence says, I’m not ready to give up on Dach yet.
I agree. I think HuGo may end up holding onto guys if we keep winning prior to the deadline. If we’re in the mix, it would send a bad message to clear house. That’s why I said if it isn’t a trade that brings back an elite piece, just leave things as they are (in a different post).
I laugh at people with comments like you. So you want to trade Evans. It isn’t in the NHL rules so I assume this is what you are hoping for. You know everything that will happen but how many goals did you score in your life? Me I keep Evans. Dach is fragile.
You laugh at people with comments like mine? Did you even read yours???
“So you want to trade Evans. It isn’t in the NHL rules.” What the heck are you even talking about?
“You know everything that will happen but how many goals did you score in your life?” The answer is plenty, but how is that even remotely relevant? 😂
I’d be happy to keep Evans too for the record (if the price is right). I’ve been one of his biggest supporters for many years, but it’s been made pretty clear that the two sides are far apart on a contract, so not trading him is a wasted opportunity if teams are offering something good.
Always appreciate your input in the comments Tyrone. Don’t agree with them all but they are usually well thought out and you take the time to explain your reasoning.
Thanks. Appreciate it. That’s what these places are for. Sharing thoughts or insights we all have. It would be boring if everyone agreed, but unfortunately some don’t quite know how to express their disagreements cordially. I welcome open discussion, but don’t tolerate folks who attack because they don’t agree.
He is done…stick a fork in him.
Same knee as the one that was “repaired” form two separate ligament tears? Perhaps it never fully repaired to begin with.
He has had a history of injuries, to not just this knee…even when he was with Chicago – he missed time two straight years with injuries.
So, yet another “big” trade Hughes made that we lost. I know this one was more related to injuries vs how good the player was, but its still a lost trade.
Time to go all in for Dylan Cousins. I don’t see any other options for this or next year at this point.
“Stick a fork in him?” You do realize you’re talking about a 24 year old young man that has risen to the very top of the pro hockey world, that has had two devastating injuries and is going through incredible physical pain and mental anguish. He’s not a piece of meat. Maybe tone down the rhetoric if you must make a comment.
I can explain it any way I feel like explaining it. No, he’s not a piece of meat. I do feel bad for him. But he’s a hockey player. An asset. He’s there to win and make money – both for himself and the team. The asset has fallen apart and even at 24 yrs old, I seriously doubt he can become what he was traded for to become. He’s got one more year left on a very low cap hit deal. He can play on the 3rd or 4th line next season – IF he is available and not injured…then he is free to walk as a free agent.
The contingency plan is now on the clock…
He is worth keeping in the bottom six and working his way back on the top six or establishing an identity as a great 3rd liner. It’s not impossible he grabs the 2C position again but the Habs are definitely looking elsewhere.
I could be wrong, but this injury seems like it might be less serious then the first injury as the surgery seemed to be less complicated then the first surgery and was done quite quickly. Maybe the recovery period will be shorter and by the start of next season he will be in good shape.
Tough for Dach but looking forward to Beck getting a good run. Wondering if they try to get Dylan Cousens from Buffalo at deadline or in summer. Think Dach should return on a wing.
That would mean Suzuki, Cousens, Beck and…next year. Not sure Hage will be ready. Thinking Evans and Dvorak will be gone.
A quality article by Marc. The rebuild must continue. At some point, Beck needs to be returned to Laval. The habs must bolster their stock of RHD and Cmen. Riley Heidt. Mavrik Bourque. Fraser Minten, etc., when they ship out their pending UFA’s.
None of those guys are NHL ready
Still using X you have got to be kidding me.