Three Reasons the Canadiens Should Keep Kirby Dach
Kirby Dach is one of those players who always feels like he’s sitting right on the edge of something bigger. Not quite there yet, not quite written off either. And after a full postseason where he actually stayed in the lineup and made some real moments happen, the Canadiens have a pretty interesting decision on their hands.
But if you’re asking me, there are still a few pretty simple reasons Montreal should keep him around.
Why the Canadiens should re-sign Dach.
First, you just don’t walk away from his upside. Dach isn’t some finished product—you’re still talking about a big, skilled centre who was drafted to be a top-line type of guy. That doesn’t disappear because of a couple of inconsistent stretches. When he’s on, he looks like a player who can drive a line, protect the puck, and make things happen off the cycle. Those guys are hard to find, and even harder to replace.
Second, the playoff flashes actually matter more than the quiet stretches. He played all 19 games, which already says something given his injury history. And when things were tight, he showed up in big moments. Those include the third-period tying goal in Game 3 against Tampa Bay, or the quick answer goal just 11 seconds after the Lightning took the lead in Game 5. Those aren’t empty stats. Those are momentum-shifting moments in playoff hockey.
Third, and maybe most importantly, the fit problem isn’t all on him. Dach has been bounced around the lineup a bit, used in different roles, and even found himself in the bottom six at times. That’s not exactly the cleanest runway for a young centre trying to find consistency. If Montreal believes in him, they’ve got to actually give him a real, stable second-line centre job and see what happens over a full season.
Dach isn’t a perfect player, of course.
Now, none of this means he’s perfect. There are still stretches where he fades, and the production can disappear when the game tightens up. That’s fair criticism. But the bigger question is whether you’re better off betting against the upside or betting on it finally clicking in the right role.
For a team like Montreal, still building and still sorting out its long-term centre depth, that’s a pretty important question. And if I’m them? I’m not in a rush to move on from him just yet.