Canadiens Forward Kirby Dach Faces Another Injury Setback
The Montreal Canadiens announced on Tuesday that forward Kirby Dach will be sidelined for two to four weeks due to an upper-body injury. This latest setback occurred during the first period of Sunday night's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at the Bell Centre, adding to Dach's extensive injury history with the team.
Injury Details and Immediate Impact
The injury resulted from a significant blindside hit delivered by the Ducks' Jeffrey Viel less than four minutes into the game. Dach appeared dazed after the collision, spending a few minutes on the bench before exiting to the locker room and missing the remainder of the contest. In his absence, Zachary Bolduc, who was a healthy scratch against the Ducks, will step into the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Boston Bruins.
A Pattern of Injuries for the Forward
This injury marks another chapter in Dach's challenging tenure with the Canadiens. The 25-year-old forward has already missed 34 games this season, including 31 games between November 17 and January 17 with a broken right foot. Last season, he was limited to 57 games after suffering a torn ligament in his right knee in late February. The previous season, Dach tore ligaments in his right knee during just the second game of the year, requiring surgery on both occasions.
Since being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in summer 2022, Dach has played in only 149 of the Canadiens' 313 games, representing just 48 percent of possible appearances. In his 32 games this season, he has recorded 8 goals and 6 assists for 14 points.
Contract Situation and Performance Context
Dach is currently in the final season of a four-year, $13.45 million contract with an annual salary-cap hit of $3.36 million. The forward can become a restricted free agent on July 1, making this injury particularly untimely as he approaches a critical juncture in his career.
After returning from his broken foot earlier this season, head coach Martin St. Louis initially placed Dach on the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. However, Dach was unable to maintain that position and has spent the last six games on the third line. In 17 games since his return from the foot injury, he has managed 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points, and he has been held without a point in his last four appearances.
Team Adjustments and Coach's Perspective
"It's unfortunate," St. Louis told reporters after Tuesday's morning skate. "You feel for the player. I feel it's a lot of bad luck. I think he was playing some pretty good hockey, physical. We're going to have to try to collectively replace that and I think we can."
The Canadiens are making several adjustments in response to Dach's absence. Goaltender Jakub Dobes will start against the Bruins after Jacob Fowler allowed four goals on 28 shots in the loss to Anaheim. Dobes has posted a 21-7-4 record this season with a 2.97 goals-against average and .891 save percentage, including an 11-2-2 record in his last 15 games.
Defensively, Jayden Struble will replace Arber Xhekaj in the lineup against Boston. St. Louis has also reconfigured his defensive pairings, pairing Mike Matheson with Noah Dobson, Struble with Lane Hutson, and Kaiden Guhle with Alexandre Carrier.
Looking Ahead for the Canadiens
The Canadiens are scheduled to practice Wednesday morning before flying to Detroit for Thursday's game against the Red Wings. They will then return home to face the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre on Saturday night.
Dach's injury history raises significant questions about his future with the organization as he approaches free agency. His inability to stay healthy has limited his impact since joining the Canadiens, and this latest setback only compounds those concerns during what should be a showcase season for the talented but oft-injured forward.
