Canadiens Rumors: Will Montreal Move Kirby Dach?

Marc Dumont of Montreal Hockey Now explored speculation surrounding the possibility of the Montreal Canadiens trading Kirby Dach, following Elliotte Friedman’s comments on the 32 Thoughts podcast. 

Friedman suggested that Dach could be a player Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas might target, envisioning the young forward thriving alongside veterans like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. 

While Friedman clarified that there are no active trade discussions, he raised the hypothetical idea of Dach benefiting from a fresh start, much like he did when Montreal acquired him in 2022. 

Dach has struggled this season, posting just eight points in 22 games, with a noticeable decline in his underlying metrics.

It’s time to talk about Kirby Dach and why we should give him a standing ovation next home game on Tuesday 🎙️

If you agree, retweet this video, see you on Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/EwqcbW58HL

— HFTV (@HFTVSports) November 30, 2024

Dumont, however, emphasized that the Canadiens are unlikely to move Dach at this stage, particularly given his underperformance and the team’s long-term investment in him. 

Montreal traded significant assets— the 13th overall pick and a third-rounder—to acquire Dach, signaling their belief in his potential. 

Analyst Kyle Bukauskas echoed this sentiment, stating, “The Canadiens are far from the stage where they’d consider moving Dach,” given GM Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton’s philosophy of patience and asset management. 

Dumont noted that trading Dach now, when his value is at a low point due to injuries and inconsistency, would contradict the organization’s strategy of building around young players.

Great move by Kirby Dach draws a call pic.twitter.com/91C8sTz7sc

— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) November 27, 2024

While Dumont acknowledged that any player could be moved for the right return, he deemed a trade unlikely, especially as Pittsburgh’s 2025 first-round pick—a potentially enticing asset—does not align with Montreal’s current rebuild timeline. 

He concluded that the Canadiens are more focused on maximizing Dach’s potential within their system rather than trading him for speculative future returns. 

“This is absolutely not the M.O. the team’s management group has used since taking over,” Dumont remarked, reinforcing that the Canadiens are committed to patience and development.

Photo Credit: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images