With training camp just weeks away, the Montreal Canadiens face a troubling reality. Kirby Dach sits in an Edmonton rehab facility, still working his way back from knee surgery in February. The clock is ticking, and the team’s projected second-line center remains nowhere near game-ready.
How Will Kirby Dach’s Extended Recovery Impact the Canadiens’ Season Plans?
Dach underwent a procedure on his right knee in February, his second knee operation in just 18 months. While most of his teammates have returned to the ice in Brossard for summer sessions, Dach remains in Edmonton, where he’s reportedly continuing a low-intensity rehab program alongside defenseman Kaiden Guhle.
Knee surgery has brought Kirby Dach’s difficult season to a close. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/mSuLOZQirh
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 28, 2025
The concerning part? Just over a month from the start of camp, Dach has yet to resume full skating, let alone participate in any high-level hockey drills.
This timeline puts serious doubt on his availability for opening night and creates a significant hole in Montreal’s forward planning.
Who Will Fill the Second-Line Center Role for Montreal?
Dach’s uncertain status is slowly becoming a team-wide problem. After a quiet offseason with no major additions up the middle, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves dangerously thin at center once again.
With Dach still rehabbing, Alex Newhook emerges as the most likely candidate to step into the second-line center spot. However, whether he can handle the role long-term remains a major question mark for the organization.
The other internal options don’t inspire much confidence. Jake Evans, Joe Veleno, Oliver Kapanen, and Owen Beck are all possibilities, though none have proven themselves as consistent top-six forwards in the NHL. With no clear trade chatter on the horizon, Montreal may have to roll with what they have and hope for the best.
Dach’s injury history continues to cast a dark shadow over his career trajectory. Since arriving in Montreal in 2022, he’s missed extended time with multiple injuries, including concussions, shoulder issues, and now chronic knee problems.
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He’s played fewer than 70 games in every season of his pro career and has only cleared 60 games once since juniors. For a player earning $13.45 million over four years, this availability has become a serious concern.
What Does Dach’s Injury History Mean for His Future in Montreal?
At just 23 years old, the former third-overall pick was once viewed as a potential franchise center in Montreal. In his first year with the Canadiens, he posted a promising 38 points in 58 games, offering glimpses of what he could become in the right system. But since then, staying healthy has become his biggest challenge.
The 2023-24 season represented near-rock bottom for Dach’s injury troubles. He tore both his ACL and MCL in just his second game of the year, ending his season almost before it started.
The silence around his recovery has been notable. His only public appearance this offseason was a brief cameo at Nick Suzuki’s wedding. He hasn’t posted on social media in months and has stayed away from team sessions, a move some speculate is aimed at keeping a low profile during the recovery process.
With camp looming and roster decisions ahead, the Montreal Canadiens may need to prepare for a season opener without their expensive second-line center.
If Dach’s recovery stretches further into the season, management will be under pressure to find external solutions quickly or risk another year of inadequate center depth behind captain Nick Suzuki.
