David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Owen Beck at the center of the second line : that seems to be working better than Kirby Dach

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Feb 27, 2025 6:24 PM ET

I know it and I repeat it often; we must avoid making hasty conclusions based on a few games or, worse, our feeling.

A new acquired player…

A rookie…

A transaction that has just been completed…

A selection in this year’s amateur draft…

So I won’t do the opposite of what I preach.

I will stick to the facts. And here they are:

1. Kirby Dach is having a difficult season. He has only 22 points in 57 games, even though he plays on the top six and the power play. His lack of involvement – especially at the beginning of the campaign – has disturbed several people.

He hasn’t found the back of the net in his last nine games (only three assists)… and he has the second-worst differential in the entire Bettman circuit (minus-29). Only Tyler Bertuzzi, who plays for the poor Blackhawks, is worse in this chapter (minus-30).

Kirby Dach is having another disappointing season. (Credit: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Add to all this the fact that his attitude is not the best…

And that he is still injured (right knee, the one that was operated on 18 months ago).

Bastard!

2. On Tuesday evening against the Hurricanes, Martin St-Louis used Owen Beck at the center of his “second” line and it worked.

Beck didn’t get any points, but he finished the evening at plus-1.

Patrik Laine got three points, including a rare goal at 5 on 5, while Alex Newhook got an assist, his fifth in seven games. It’s going well for Newhook lately…

Beck is more feisty than Dach, even if he doesn’t have his size, and he plays a better game over 200 feet. He also brings more speed to his overall game.

3. Owen Beck didn’t take face-offs: it was Alex Newhook who did. Except that Newhook only won three out of eight, while Beck won the only one he took.

Conclusion: I hope Kirby Dach is not seriously injured, but that the team’s doctors will play it safe today. Why rush the return of a guy who is struggling and who got injured in the same knee that was operated on a year and a half ago?

Especially since his replacement makes his two wingers happy (and productive).

In the medium term, Beck could become a reliable third center and Kirby Dach, a winger who could play on the second or third line. If he’s not traded…

prolongation

So I suggest we continue to use Beck at the center of Laine and Newhook, while evaluating the option of bringing Dach (when he’s healthy) to the wing, and not to the center.

The Kirby Dach at center experience is not the most conclusive.

I look forward to the Owen Beck at center experience, then Kirby Dach on the wing.

Whatever the possible departures of Christian Dvorak and/or Jake Evans in the coming days may complicate things.

At this point, let’s keep Beck on the top six and demote Dach, if we’re forced to keep him at center…

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.

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