Can Kirby Dach have a strong season for the Canadiens?
Kirby Dach is undoubtedly a Montreal Canadiens forward to watch very closely this off-season. After avoiding an arbitration hearing by signing a one-year, $3.6 million with the Canadiens earlier this summer, it is clear that this is a huge season for the 25-year-old forward.
The last few seasons have been very frustrating for Dach. He has missed significant time over the last few years due to injury trouble, and this was yet again the case during the 2025-26 season. In just 37 games last season for the Canadiens, he posted eight goals and 15 points.
Dach has also had trouble regaining the top form he showed during the 2022-23 season. In 58 games that season with the Canadiens, he set career highs with 14 goals, 24 assists, and 38 points.
Yet, the new season will offer Dach a clean slate, and he will need to take advantage of it if he hopes to a future with Montreal beyond this campaign. The 2019 third-overall pick is entering this campaign as a pending unrestricted free agent, so it is clear that this is an incredibly important year for the young forward.
If Dach can bounce back and stay healthy for Montreal, it would help his chances of landing a nice contract for his next deal. That remains the case whether he decides to sign an extension with the Habs as soon as January 1 or test the free agent market next summer.
It will be very interesting to see what kind of campaign Dach puts together in 2026-27, but it is apparent that this is a make-or-break year for the Canadiens forward.
