Former Blackhawks’ 3rd Overall Pick Has Another Major Injury

You never want to see a player in the NHL or anywhere get injured, but the Chicago Blackhawks avoided some major blows by trading former third overall pick Kirby Dach when they did. Unfortunately, he just can’t stay healthy.

Now with the Montreal Canadiens after the Blackhawks traded Dach to them in 2022 in exchange for a 13th overall pick and a 66th overall pick, he will now miss significant time for the fourth time in six seasons in the NHL. The 24-year-old has never played more than 70 games. He has played over 60 games just twice and both came with Chicago, not Montreal.

Dach will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season after undergoing knee surgery. He has put up 10 goals and 22 points in 57 games this season and only played two games all of last season. In his first season with the Canadiens, he played 58 games and had his season ended by an injury as well.

The Blackhawks weren’t hit as hard with his injuries, except Dach did only play 18 games in his sophomore season. He clearly took a step back this season from what he showed in 2022-23 in Montreal as in just one fewer game played, he has four fewer goals, 16 fewer points, is -27 worse, logged 2:50 less ice time per game, has nine fewer power-play points, and 23 fewer shots. He made doubled his hits though.

The more Dach gets injured and misses significant time, the more it is going to negatively impact his play and the risk of injury will continue to rise. The Canadiens paid a high price to acquire Dach at 21 years old, and now only Chicago is benefiting from the trade three years later.

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