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Oilers’ Trade Interest in Kirby Dach Is Very Puzzling

Montreal Canadiens Kirby Dach (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

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Oilers’ Trade Interest in Kirby Dach Is Very Puzzling

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Rupert McDonald | Last updated Oct 7, 2026 1:45 PM ET

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While the Edmonton Oilers own a 2-0-1 record through their first three games of the season, it’s fair to say there have been a few points of concern with their overall play. Offence hasn’t been an issue as indicated by their 17 goals on the season. The fact they’ve given up 14, however, is an indication that they could use some help whether on the back end or between the pipes.

Despite the Oilers’ biggest issues looking obvious to some, however, management seems to be looking at things differently. Rather than attempting to upgrade on the blue line or between the pipes, they are instead showing trade interest in Montreal Canadiens centre Kirby Dach. In late September, NHL insider Frank Seravalli described the Oilers as “drooling” with interest in the 25-year-old.

It doesn’t seem as though that interest has waned, as several insiders have continued to state a potential deal with the Oilers that involves Dach. It’s worth noting that general manager (GM) Stan Bowman selected Dach with the third-overall pick for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019.

It is also worth noting that the Oilers did make a trade for a forward on Wednesday morning, sending depth defenceman Spencer Stastney to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Filip Hallander. That said, Hallander, 26, has only logged 18 NHL games to this point in his career. In other words, this likely won’t take away from their strong interest in Dach.

Oilers Don’t Have Time to Take on Projects

Back in 2019, Dach was viewed as a very high-end prospect. He entered the draft having put up 25 goals and 73 points in 62 games with the Western Hockey League’s Saskatoon Blades, and was considered being very close to NHL-ready. That turned out to be the case, as he suited up for the Blackhawks that very next season as an 18-year-old.

Standing at 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, Dach had and still continues to have both the size and skill to be a power forward. The problem, however, is that he hasn’t come anywhere close to living up to the expectations he had placed on his shoulders early in his career.

Dach has never hit the 40-point mark in his seven NHL seasons. In his defence, plenty of that is due to injury, as he’s logged more than 60 games in a single season just once in his professional career. That in itself should give the Oilers reason to pause when it comes to making a move for him.

When healthy enough to be in the lineup, Dach has provided very mediocre results. He managed just eight goals and 15 points in 37 regular season games in 2025-26, and followed that up with four goals and one helper in 19 playoff outings.

Should the Oilers acquire Dach, he would be a reclamation project. That makes sense for plenty of teams across the league, but not one who is facing high pressure to win a Stanley Cup. They already have one project up front in Isaac Howard and don’t have the time to take a swing on another.

Help Needed in Other Areas

As previously mentioned, if the Oilers were to add up front, bringing in a scoring winger would be a better option at this time. That said, adding a forward in any capacity shouldn’t be their main focus right now.

The fact that the Oilers have given up 14 goals on the season in games against the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken goes to show they have a lot of work to do in their own end of the ice. Part of that is due to the fact that their blue line has struggled. They could really use a boost on the back end and should be focusing on that when it comes to any sort of trade.

There are also concerns in the crease, though it’s hard to envision the Oilers making any changes there just yet. Devon Levi looked solid in his most recent start against the Kraken, and Frederik Andersen is expected to return at some point in December. The Oilers will likely want to get a look at their new duo when both healthy before making any sort of moves.

Kirby Dach, Montreal Canadiens (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

For now, the Oilers would be better off resisting the temptation to add another reclamation project up front. Dach may eventually find his game and become the player many expected him to be when he entered the league, but Edmonton doesn’t have the luxury of waiting around to find out. With a Stanley Cup still firmly in their sights, their limited trade assets would be better spent addressing the areas that are actually holding them back.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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