Breaking News: Kirby Dach Files For Arbitration

The Canadiens also had six other RFAs eligible for arbitration that chose not to file it, which includes defenseman Arber Xhekaj. Meanwhile, forward Zack Bolduc, who is also an RFA, is currently ineligible for arbitration as he is just coming out of his entry-level deal, while all the other Canadiens’ RFAs have just seen their second pro contracts expire, giving them a little leverage with negotiations. 

Dach is in his final year of RFA status and has just finished a four-year contract worth $14 million ($3.5 million AAV) with the Habs. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as well as both the player and the team hoped when he was acquired at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft from the Chicago Blackhawks for that year’s 13th pick. Dach has been extremely injury-prone in the last four years since joining the Montreal Canadiens, playing just 154 out of a possible 328 regular season games. This means he has played just 46.9% of all Canadiens games since he was brought over, and the initial goal of him eventually becoming the Habs’ second-line centre seems over. In those 154 games, Dach has scored 32 goals and 77 points, performing at a decent 0.5 points per game in that time. 

This past season saw Dach play just 37 games, where he scored 8 goals and 15 points. However, he was able to stay healthy the entire playoffs, suiting up in all 19 games for the Canadiens, where he scored 4 goals and an assist in a 4th-line depth role. 

It will be interesting to see how much money will be awarded to Dach on a one-year contract if he does indeed reach arbitration, considering the injuries and his inability to progress with the Canadiens over the past few years. There is also still the possibility that Dach gets traded at some point over the next few weeks, which could result in the Canadiens not even needing to go to arbitration with him. It was reported by David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period that Dach is indeed circulating in trade rumours.

What do you expect to happen with Dach’s contract situation with the Canadiens this summer? Will they get a deal done before the arbitration case? Will it get settled by a third party, or will the Canadiens end up trading the 25-year-old?