Last season, the Montreal Canadiens finished fifth in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference with 40 wins, 31 losses, and 91 points. They made the playoffs in 2024-25 for the first time since 2021, but the joy was short-lived as the Canadiens succumbed 4-1 to the Washington Capitals in the first round of Game 5 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference, thus getting eliminated from the Stanley Cup pursuit.
As the Canadiens gear up to change the narrative this upcoming season, a ray of hope has emerged.
Montreal’s 24-year-old center Kirby Dach was seen skating in Brossard. The center is currently recuperating from a prolonged knee injury after undergoing two surgeries.
Canadiens Fans Share Their Opinions on Kirby Dach’s Skate Session
Dach’s last season ended prematurely as he underwent a second knee surgery. However, the center was expected to recover fully before the 2025-26 season.
“Kirby Dach will be out the rest of the season for the Montreal Canadiens following knee surgery. The 24-year-old center is expected to make a full recovery before the start of next season after a procedure performed by Dr. Thierry Pauyo in Montreal,” read a report from the NHL.
Months later, Dach was finally spotted on ice again.
The 24-year-old sustained ACL and MCL tears during a match against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2023-24 season. Dach ended up playing for only two games that season. Could things finally be looking up for the center?
One social media user expressed concerns about Dach’s health. After all, the 24-year-old’s injury history is extensive, including wrist, lower-body, upper-body, shoulder, and knee injuries.
One Canadiens fan made a potent observation: Dach could be skating, but there was no reason to believe he could be ready to play soon. The X user noted that the 24-year-old is still recuperating. “Clearly in rehabilitation.”
Another fan seemed more excited about Dach’s potential return, sharing a short clip that said, “That’s a miracle right there.”
Dach’s return is highly anticipated. Injury woes have marred the former third-overall pick’s time with the Canadiens.
Last season, he accumulated 22 points in 57 regular-season games and missed the opportunity to play in the playoffs entirely. Dach is also a crucial addition to the team’s power play unit.