Kirby Dach Expected To Play on Tuesday Night

After just over 2 months of recovery time, Dach appears to be ready to get back into game action. Dach was placed on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield during Monday’s practice, taking the spot of Alexandre Texier. The French forward was given a therapy day and did not hit the ice, which is why Dach was placed there. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Habs don’t decide to give him an audition, as I’ve mentioned previously, he has the size and skill to be a good replacement for Juraj Slafkovsky, who is now thriving with Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen instead.

Slafkovsky’s success on a different line is why the Canadiens may be giving Dach a chance to show what he can do with Suzuki and Caufield. It’s evident that Texier is just a temporary solution on the top line while the Habs search for other options internally. It’s possible they eventually go the trade route, but giving Dach an opportunity is likely the best solution right now.

However, just coming back from injury, it may not be the best time for Dach to be given that audition on the top line, and chances are since it was just a therapy day for Texier, he will still be able to play on Tuesday night.

With that being said, Dach should likely start on a line with someone like Jake Evans and Zack Bolduc, so he doesn’t have too much responsibility offensively right away.  A reason why Evans would be a better centre for Dach than Phillip Danault for his return to the lineup is that Evans brings a lot more speed to his game, which will allow Dach to not have to use his speed as he gets back to his expected game speed.

The truth is being healthy enough to play and actually being on your best game are two completely different things. When you have a long-term injury that lasts longer than a month, it often takes time to get back to full form. For someone like Dach, who seems to constantly have long-term injuries, it may take even longer to find their footing.

Tuesday’s morning skate should be interesting to see exactly where Daxh is placed in the lineup. During Monday’s practice, it is very likely they slotted him on the top line because they needed a body to fill in, and they do see him fitting there at some point during the 2nd half of the season, but if they are to do it now, he will probably struggle.

In order to get the legs, he needs to be able to play on the top line effectively. Dach will need to only steadily move his way back up the lineup to that point so that he doesn’t end up being a liability alongside Suzuki and Caufield.

Where would you play Dach in the lineup on Tuesday night?