Injury Injury news

[Lanes World]

14 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Kirby Dach underwent successful knee surgery | Montréal Canadiens

 

OK. I think we can officially declare the "Kirby Dach as top-6 C" experiment over. He is too fragile, his knee may be damaged goods, and it's not clear that he is good enough as a player, to play that kind of core role.

 

Hugo need to give serious thought to the #2C position as a structural hole in the rebuild. And they cannot do like MB did with the #1C position, i.e., wait a decade. Maybe they think Beck can be that. If not, they should be proactive about finding one within the next few months.

Yup^

 

Is it the same knee as last year? 

It may still happen, but he’s just not an impact player. He can’t stay healthy and is looking more and more like a third line winger. 

No offence to Dach, but Chicago made the right move. 

[Commandant]

17 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Kirby Dach underwent successful knee surgery | Montréal Canadiens

 

OK. I think we can officially declare the "Kirby Dach as top-6 C" experiment over. He is too fragile, his knee may be damaged goods, and it's not clear that he is good enough as a player, to play that kind of core role.

 

Hugo need to give serious thought to the #2C position as a structural hole in the rebuild. And they cannot do like MB did with the #1C position, i.e., wait a decade. Maybe they think Beck can be that. If not, they should be proactive about finding one within the next few months.

 

I dont see Beck as the #2.  Hage is more likely to be a #2c (though beck.is more likely an NHLer if that makes sense).

 

In any event Hage isnt close.

 

They need to think about the number 2 C this summer.

[Commandant]

14 minutes ago, Lanes World said:

Yup^

 

Is it the same knee as last year? 

It may still happen, but he’s just not an impact player. He can’t stay healthy and is looking more and more like a third line winger. 

No offence to Dach, but Chicago made the right move. 

 

Chicago couldnt have known hed hurt his knee twice.

[Lanes World]

15 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

Chicago couldnt have known hed hurt his knee twice.

Dach is a good player, not a great player, knee injuries or not. 
 

This team has a pile of money to spend in 2026, go hard after a 2c 

[Commandant]

2 minutes ago, Lanes World said:

Dach is a good player, not a great player, knee injuries or not. 

 

Sure, And at the same time, we have no idea what Nazar is. 

[Lanes World]

16 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

Sure, And at the same time, we have no idea what Nazar is. 

I don’t know but Nazar as crack the nhl, so we shall see 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

It was a reasonable gamble that didn't pan out.

 

We'll never know how good Dach might have been with healthy knees. 

 

If Nazar turns into a good player, then yes, this still goes down as a failed move. Dach did have injuries with the Hawks too...while I personally suspect the Hawks were just in mindless "slash and burn" mode, it's possible they saw something they didn't like in his mindset, his game, or his durability. If so, then hats off to their acumen.  

[Commandant]

15 minutes ago, Lanes World said:

I don’t know but Nazar as crack the nhl, so we shall see 

 

My whole point is that even if Chicago made the right choice, its based on Dach being unlucky more than on any insight Chicago had. 

[Commandant]

5 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

It was a reasonable gamble that didn't pan out.

 

We'll never know how good Dach might have been with healthy knees. 

 

If Nazar turns into a good player, then yes, this still goes down as a failed move. Dach did have injuries with the Hawks too...while I personally suspect the Hawks were just in mindless "slash and burn" mode, it's possible they saw something they didn't like in his mindset, his game, or his durability. If so, then hats off to their acumen.  

 

He had one injury.... a fractured wrist.   Not sure how that is related to the knee.... .again... luck. 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

2 minutes ago, Commandant said:

 

He had one injury.... a fractured wrist.   Not sure how that is related to the knee.... .again... luck. 

 

No no, I agree. Bad luck is the most obvious explanation here.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

It sounds like the surgery is on the same knee. I don’t feel good about this at all. 
 

Structural hole at 2C

 

We are weak on RD depth but 2C becomes our first priority. 
 

Beck is going to get an opportunity 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

I don’t even know what to think. 
 

Perhaps Dach’s poor play was because his knee was sore?

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

 

[DON]

Oh well, just next year left on his contract

[tomh009]

If not 2C, he may still be a credible middle-six winger. or possibly 3C. Remains to be seen.

[Commandant]

1 minute ago, tomh009 said:

If not 2C, he may still be a credible middle-six winger. or possibly 3C. Remains to be seen.

 

At 3.3 million the contract is fine for either of those positions (as is the QO at the end of that contract). 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Best case scenario is that Dach’s knee was bothering him all season and that’s why he wasn’t great. 
 

Dach has surgery and feels great next season and starts to dazzle again. 
 

Hopefully 

[tomh009]

11 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Best case scenario is that Dach’s knee was bothering him all season and that’s why he wasn’t great. 
 

Dach has surgery and feels great next season and starts to dazzle again. 
 

Hopefully 

Not the likeliest scenario but let's hope he is at least halfway between recent form and what we saw earlier.

[alfredoh2009]

2 hours ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Kirby Dach underwent successful knee surgery | Montréal Canadiens

 

OK. I think we can officially declare the "Kirby Dach as top-6 C" experiment over. He is too fragile, his knee may be damaged goods, and it's not clear that he is good enough as a player, to play that kind of core role.

 

Hugo need to give serious thought to the #2C position as a structural hole in the rebuild. And they cannot do like MB did with the #1C position, i.e., wait a decade. Maybe they think Beck can be that. If not, they should be proactive about finding one within the next few months.

 

I like 🤩 Beck 🤩 but I doubt he becomes a "Cup contending" 2C. Maybe , maybe not. (I hope so)

 

HughGort needs to get a top-6 center

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

It's a shame about Dach, had high hopes for him going into this year. Two surgeries on the same knee is not a good thing. Hopeful but not optimistic. 

[alfredoh2009]

22 minutes ago, tomh009 said:

If not 2C, he may still be a credible middle-six winger. or possibly 3C. Remains to be seen.

agreed, but Kapanen and 🤩Beck🤩 may have dibs on that spot

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Looks like slim pickin' on the UFA market, unless we want to break the bank on Sam Bennett.

 

Hockey trade ahoy

 

EDIT: although I suppose we could try to sign a veteran like Tavares as a stop-gap. We shall see. 

[Commandant]

22 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Looks like slim pickin' on the UFA market, unless we want to break the bank on Sam Bennett.

 

Hockey trade ahoy

 

EDIT: although I suppose we could try to sign a veteran like Tavares as a stop-gap. We shall see. 

 

I doubt hed go short term but if Brock Nelson would take 2 years, id look there 

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

1 hour ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Looks like slim pickin' on the UFA market, unless we want to break the bank on Sam Bennett.

 

Hockey trade ahoy

 

EDIT: although I suppose we could try to sign a veteran like Tavares as a stop-gap. We shall see. 

 

Tavares signing with the Habs instead of resigning with the Leafs would be an absolute shocker but I have been around long enough to know stranger things have happened. 

 

Bennett won't come cheap, he is highly valued as he should be. I wouldn't break the bank. 

[Lanes World]

In his three seasons with the Habs, Kirby Dach has played 117 out of a possible 246 games.
 

• 2022-2023: lower & upper body injuries, 58 games played

 

• 2023-2024: torn ACL & MCL to right knee, 2 games played

 

• 2024-2025: right knee surgery, 57 games played

@habsonreddit