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Though the Canadiens are still in the market for a top-six forward, theyve also discussed the possibility of dealing from their current depth group to make it happen.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that Kirby Dachs name has popped up in some of the front offices trade talks with other clubs, though likely only in a deal that sees Montreal net a center.
Dach, 25, is coming off yet another injury-plagued season.
His 8-715 scoring line in 37 outings worked out to 0.41 points per game, a slight bump from last years overall production but the worst assists-per-game output of his NHL career.
He struggled to produce in the playoffs as well and was dropped to a fourth-line role.
His 13:39 average time on ice in the regular season was also the lowest of his career as his power-play usage wilted, although he did show some improvement in the dot for a career-high 41.4% faceoff win rate.
What the 2019 third overall pick still brings in spades is speed.
Even with two right ACL tears on his injury list in the last three years, his skating has rebounded well, and his 23.42 MPH max skating speed this season sat in the 94th percentile of all skaters.
As someone without a ton of defensive awareness, though, that speed doesnt mean much if he cant convert it into point production.
Dach is without a contract, although the Habs issued him his $4MM qualifying offer last month to retain his rights.
He could very well just ink that as he risks a lower salary by drawing things out to an arbitration hearing.
AFP Analytics projects he will receive only $2.225MM annually on a two-year contract.
None of those potential scenarios is of real concern for the Habs, who still sit with over $14.2MM in cap space, per PuckPedia.
He also still fills a depth need with no internal candidates, making a huge push for his job, and his ability to step in on the power play if needed is valuable.
Hence, dont expect the Habs to move him for the sake of moving him.
He just wrapped up the four-year, $13.45MM contract he signed with Montreal in 2022 after they sent the 13th overall pick in that years draft to the Blackhawks, who ended up selecting Frank Nazar, to acquire him.
The number of impact centers available isnt high as Montreal continues its years-long pursuit for a stable second-line pivot behind Nick Suzuki.
Vincent Trocheck came off the board on July 1 as the Mammoth went to bat for him, and while Dylan Larkin is still available, the list of teams hell accept a trade to is small, and it doesnt appear the Habs are on it.
There are similarly-aged reclamation-project types like Morgan Frost or Shane Wright who could fit the bill, and both Calgary and Seattle would likely have some level of interest in recouping Dach to help out their forward depth in either of those swaps.
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