Habs Avoid Arbitration and Sign Kirby Dach to a Risky Contract

The Montreal Canadiens have been betting on Kirby Dach's potential ever since they acquired the former third overall pick from the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2022 NHL Draft. Four years later, that bet has yet to pay off in any meaningful way, and the organization's latest move may have only raised the stakes further. On Thursday, general manager Kent Hughes announced that the club and Dach have agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.6 million, avoiding what would have been a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for July 30.

The contract itself is straightforward enough. But its implications are anything but simple.

A Gamble That Could Leave Montreal Empty-Handed

The most significant detail buried in this deal is what happens when it expires. Because the one-year term carries Dach through the 2026-27 season, the 25-year-old center will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. That means if Dach finally puts together the kind of healthy, productive campaign the Canadiens have been waiting for, he could simply walk away and sign elsewhere without Montreal receiving any compensation. It is a scenario that turns a potential breakout season into a double-edged sword for the franchise.

Dach had been tendered a one-year, two-way qualifying offer worth $4 million at the NHL level before the June 30 deadline, but he opted to file for arbitration instead. The two sides ultimately settled on the $3.6 million figure, a slight raise from the $3.36 million average annual value of his previous four-year contract. While the cap hit is modest, the real cost could come in the form of losing a talented asset for nothing.

When the Canadiens originally brought Dach to Montreal, the price was steep. The deal essentially sent defenseman Alexander Romanov and a third-round draft pick to Chicago. The front office, led by Jeff Gorton and Hughes, envisioned Dach as a 6-foot-4, 221-pound right-shot center who could anchor the second line behind captain Nick Suzuki. That vision has never fully materialized, and the second-line center position remains one of the most glaring holes on the roster.

Over four seasons in Montreal, Dach has been available for just 154 of a possible 328 regular-season games. He has missed a staggering 174 contests due to various injuries, including two major reconstructive surgeries on his right knee. His 2023-24 campaign was essentially erased after he hurt his knee in just the second game of the year, and the same knee required a second operation in 2025. Last season, a fractured foot limited him to 37 games, during which he posted eight goals and seven assists.

What This Means for Dach and the Canadiens Going Forward

Despite the relentless injury setbacks, Dach showed flashes of his ability during Montreal's 2026 playoff run. He appeared in all 19 of the team's postseason contests, scoring four goals and adding one assist as the Canadiens advanced to the Eastern Conference Final before being eliminated. He also led the team's regular forwards with 1.30 takeaways per 60 minutes during the regular season, a small but telling indicator that his two-way game can be impactful when he is on the ice.

Hughes himself acknowledged at the team's year-end press conference that Dach is a talented player who has simply been unlucky with injuries. Dach, for his part, has spoken candidly about the mental toll of repeated rehabilitation and the challenge of rediscovering his confidence. "I know better now who I am as a person and a player," he said.

Heading into training camp, Dach will compete with Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen for a spot in the top six, though the Canadiens are reportedly still scouring the trade market for a more established second-line option. The short-term nature of Dach's contract sends a clear message: this is his final opportunity to prove he can be the player Montreal thought it was acquiring four years ago.

If Dach stays healthy and thrives, the Canadiens face the uncomfortable reality that he could test the open market and leave for nothing. If he struggles or suffers yet another injury, Montreal will have spent another season waiting on unfulfilled promise. Either way, the clock is now ticking on one of the most consequential gambles of the Hughes era.