The Montreal Canadiens announced on Tuesday night that center Kirby Dach will miss the rest of the season due to a torn ACL and MCL. Dach will undergo surgery for the injury.
During a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, Dach was checked into the boards by defenseman Jared Tinordi, forcing him to leave the game.
Last season, Dach played in 58 games for Montreal, scoring 14 goals and recording 24 assists. However, his season was cut short due to knee surgery. It is unclear if his most recent ACL and MCL tears are on the same leg.
Dach, who was selected 3rd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019, has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Since the 2021 season, he has missed 74 games due to various upper and lower body injuries.
Despite his time off the ice, Dach made significant progress last season for the Canadiens, becoming one of their top play-drivers and scoring at a career-best pace of 53 points.
With Dach out, Alex Newhook is expected to take his place on the Canadiens’ second line. Newhook was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche this offseason.
Head coach Martin St. Louis has expressed confidence in Newhook’s abilities despite the differences in size and speed compared to Dach.
The Canadiens have faced a series of injuries over the past two seasons, losing a total of 600 man-games last year.
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