Elliotte Friedman links promising Montreal Canadiens forward to the Pittsburgh Penguins

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Julien Trekker
November 29, 2024 (4:53 PM)

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The top insider Elliotte Friedman linked the promising Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a new trade rumor.

22 games have passed since Kirby Dach returned to the Montreal Canadiens lineup after missing the whole 2023-24 season due to a knee injury.

Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to find his former rhythm, scoring only one goal this season and tallying a -18 rating.

In a market like Montreal, when a player underperforms, analysts are quick to start trade rumors.

However, the Canadiens fanbase seems to agree that it would be much too early to trade him.

Dach's ceiling is very high. He could become an elite player in the NHL. At only 23 years old, and given his injury history, patience is key in his case.

The Habs paid a hefty price to get him at the 2022 draft. In a clever maneuver, Kent Hughes traded the defenseman Alexander Romanov to the New York Islanders for the 13th overall pick and then flipped that pick to the Chicago Blackhawks to get Dach.

Despite all this, Elliotte Friedman linked Dach to the Pittsburgh Penguins, stating that Kyle Dubas could be interested in taking a shot at him and putting him alongside Crosby and Malkin:

"If you're looking for guys that Kyle Dubas could look at and say, 'This is another one worth taking a shot at,' and what would he learn next to the likes of (Evgeni) Malkin and (Sidney) Crosby? I can't help but wonder about Kirby Dach being that kind of a guy."

In my opinion, if Dubas makes an offer that the Canadiens can't refuse, they might pull it off, but the odds are very slim.

One thing is certain: Kent Hughes won't make anything unless it can be beneficial for the team's rebuild.

Let's not forget that Dach still has time to turn his season around. With Patrik Laine expected to make his Habs debut soon, a lot could change in Montreal.

In their first preseason game, Laine and Dach played on the same line and showed great promise together. If head coach Martin St. Louis decides to reunite them, it could help Dach reach another level.