Canadiens’ Kirby Dach out for season with torn ACL and MCL

Dach, 22, suffered the damage halfway by the primary interval of Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks, Dach’s former staff. It was on a play the place Blackhawks defenseman Jarred Tinordi hit Dach into the Chicago bench, and he left the sport shortly after. He completed the sport with three hits taken and a faceoff misplaced in 4:40 of ice time because the Habs received the sport 3-2.

Dach was off to a stable begin in Montreal, with two assists in two video games, each coming within the Habs season-opening sport in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was a continuation of his breakout season in his first 12 months with the Canadiens in 2022-23, the place he had 14 targets, 24 assists, and 38 factors in 58 video games.

The Habs have been taking part in offseason addition Alex Newhook within the second-line heart function as a alternative for the damage. Newhook centered Tanner Pearson and Juraj Slafkovsky throughout Tuesday evening’s sport in opposition to the Minnesota Wild, which they misplaced 5-2. It seems to be the answer for Dach’s damage in the meanwhile, so that they received’t pursue a alternative within the commerce marketplace for now.

Dach was a former third-overall choose of the Blackhawks within the 2019 NHL Draft, and he spent three seasons with Chicago earlier than he was dealt to the Canadiens for a primary and third-round choose within the 2022 offseason. He’s presently within the second 12 months of a four-year contract with a $3,362,500 cap hit, one he signed with the Habs after they acquired him.

The damage won’t be an enormous blow when it comes to the Habs’ aspirations, as they doubtless received’t be competing for a playoff spot this season, however it does hinder Dach’s growth for the season. The Habs presently sit in fifth within the Atlantic Division with a 1-1-1 document.