Canadiens bring back Kirby Dach on $3.6 million contract

There will be no arbitration happening between the Montreal Canadiens and forward Kirby Dach. The two sides will be running it back for at least one more year after they agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract extension.

The Canadiens announced the move on Thursday on social media and via their official website.

Dach has been with the Canadiens since the summer of 2022, when the Chicago Blackhawks traded him to Montreal in exchange for a first-round pick and a third-round pick, both in the same year. Months later, the Canadiens inked Dach to a four-year, $13.45 million contract extension. With his latest extension, the 25-year-old’s free agency timeline gets pushed back for another year.

Fans have mixed reactions to the Canadiens’ decision to keep it going with Dach.

“Right at market value. Big year coming up for Kirby,” a fan said.

“Not bad about what I expected him to get,” a social media user on X shared.

“Good value, prove it, one year deal. He was qualities to get at least 4 million on a 2 way deal,” another one commented.

“Well paid for 25 Games on the ice, 12 on the press gallery and 47 on the injured list,” a different fan said.

“Thank god its not long term,” another comment read.

This also gives Dach a chance to have a big rebound after a tough 2025-26 campaign. Last season, he played in only 37 games, as he dealt with injuries. He amassed eight goals and seven assists for 15 points.

He wasn’t all that great either in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Final. Through 19 games played in that postseason, Dach, a native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, found the back of the net four times with an assist.