Last year, losing Kirby Dach was a very hard blow for the Canadian. The young center, who was starting to get the hang of going to Montreal, was seen by the CH as the club’s best player at camp last year, after all.
At that time, I was one of those who said that Dach was possibly the future #1A center of the CH (with Nick Suzuki as #1B, obviously).
That said, until now, Dach has been a bit of a worry since the start of the season. In my opinion, it is perhaps a little early to be Really worried (considering that he is coming back from an injury and, above all, that he is already playing a little better in a few matches), but that is not necessarily everyone’s opinion.
While the Snake asserts on the airwaves of BPM Sports that he doesn’t see Dach becoming a 60-70 point guy, Georges Laraque and Stéphane Gonzalez also talked about Dach’s case today.
Their observation: at this moment, we cannot say with certainty that the box of second future center of the Habs is checked by Dach.
And in fact, this is a statement that holds up. I agree somewhat with my colleague Marc-Olivier Cook that the criticism of Dach’s performance in the center is a bit harsh, but that does not mean that I consider this box as checked.
With Nick Suzuki, who is a bon #1 center but perhaps not a #1 center elitehaving a second center who is closer to being a #1B is quite important for the Canadian. Right now, we see Dach as the logical name for such a position…
But sooner or later, it is true that he will have to demonstrate that he is capable of doing so. Because if he doesn’t succeed, it will be… tricky.
If the CH eventually realizes that Dach is not their second center of the future (whether because they see him as a winger or as a third center), it will be difficult to find a solution at hand. The name of Michael Hage is often mentioned, and he is indeed promising, but he remains a project and not a certainty at the moment.
The other name sometimes mentioned is that of Ivan Demidov, whom the Habs considered as a potential center when selecting him (this was mentioned in the behind-the-scenes video of the draft). That said, he’s currently playing wing in Russia, and who knows if he’ll make the transition to center in the NHL.
Colleague Tony Patoine would possibly talk to you about giving Juraj Slafkovský a chance in this role.
And otherwise, there is Alex Newhook… but let’s say that his start to the season is not reassuring either.
All this to say that at the moment, the Canadian really needs Dach to demonstrate that he is the club’s second center of the future. He is possibly the player who, in the CH’s plan, is the one who must reach his full potential at all costs.
If he doesn’t succeed, the Habs might have to use a big draft pick to take a center… but again, we’re not talking about a certainty. After all, Dach is a guy who was drafted third overall.
Meanwhile, in Carolina, Jesperi Kotkaniemi has eight points in 11 games. Do what you want with this information.
In burst
– Patrik Laine looks happy.
– Nice read.
– News from the hope of the CH.
– An announcement that hides another to come?
– Big start to the match for Derrick White.
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