Did Kirby Dach Deal Fall Through After Demidov Injury?

However, his injury history and inconsistent production raise legitimate concerns about how much Edmonton should be willing to surrender. Dach has surpassed 30 points only once in his NHL career, making him a difficult player to evaluate as a potential long-term third-line centre.

Montreal also has reasons to consider moving him, particularly if the Canadiens want to reshape their forward group. However, an injury to Demidov could understandably make the organization reluctant to sacrifice additional offensive depth.

Demidov’s Injury Could Explain Montreal’s Hesitation

There is at least some logic behind the timing of the rumour. Montreal announced Tuesday that Demidov would miss two to four weeks with a lower-body injury. Losing one of its most promising offensive players could make the Canadiens hesitant to move another forward before determining how their lineup responds.

That doesn’t establish that a trade was close, however. There has been no credible confirmation that Montreal backed out of an agreement involving Dach. What is established is Edmonton’s interest. Frank Seravalli reported in September that the Oilers and Calgary Flames had been monitoring Dach, while Elliotte Friedman subsequently connected Edmonton’s search for a right-shot centre to the Canadiens forward.

Oilers Have Little Reason to Rush Into a Trade

Even if Edmonton was the Western Conference team involved, general manager Stan Bowman might be better served waiting. The Oilers have opened the season 3-0-1, winning three consecutive games despite missing several important forwards. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman and Matt Savoie have been unavailable, yet Edmonton has continued finding ways to win.

The Oilers have already addressed some of their forward depth concerns, acquiring Filip Hållander from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Spencer Stastney on Wednesday. The move followed Elliotte Friedman’s earlier report that Edmonton was exploring a lateral trade involving one of its depth defencemen.

Rather than surrendering assets for Dach immediately, Edmonton should evaluate its roster once Nugent-Hopkins, Hyman and Savoie return. That would provide a clearer picture of whether another centre is genuinely necessary or whether the team’s existing options can handle the workload. Dach remains an interesting target, especially given Bowman’s history with him in Chicago. But acquiring a player with his injury history carries risks of its own.

For now, the alleged failed trade should remain firmly in the rumour category. The scenario is plausible, but plausibility isn’t confirmation. Edmonton’s strong start gives Bowman something valuable: time. There is little reason to make a panic move when the Oilers are already winning without a fully healthy forward group.