Slideshows

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

All Buzznews

2022-11-06 11:55:10 Updated on 2022-11-06 12:02:09

Kirby Dach is a big guy at 6 feet 4 inches.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

The Montreal Canadiens acquired him in the last draft, in a short series of transactions.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

First, the Habs sent defenseman Alexander Romanov to the New York Islanders for the 13th and 98th picks in the 2022 draft.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

A moment later, the Canadiens sent the 13th pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Kirby Dach. The Habs also added the 66th pick of the 2022 draft.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

That's good money for a kid who's been slow to come out of his shell.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

That said, Dach was the 3rd overall pick in the 2019 draft.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

A 3rd overall pick often deserves a few chances to make his mark before falling to the siding.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

That's probably why Kent Hughes sacrificed a young defenseman like Romanov to go get him.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

The Habs have been looking for good center players for years. The arrival of Dach fits perfectly into this logic.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

But what went wrong in his 3 seasons in Chicago?

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

In his rookie year in 2019-20, Dach showed good signs, with 23 points in 64 games.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

But quickly, the Hawks were disappointed. Has Dach capped out yet?

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

Some people think so. In his third season last year, Dach didn't do any better than he did in his rookie season. He collected 26 points in 70 games...

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

Others believe Dach is just looking for a real opportunity to make his mark.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

At 21 years of age, Kirby Dach could still be on the rise. He had only played 152 games in the NHL before the start of this season.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

So we're talking about a youngster who is still in the early stages of his career.

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

In fact, Habs GM Kent Hughes saw something in him. He brought out the big guns to acquire the young center in the draft...

Kirby Dach: the hidden card? Kent Hughes believes it!

Then, also at the signing of his impressive contract! 4 years and nearly $13.5M for this young player who still has everything to prove, it's not nothing.