Canadiens Center Set for Return From Lengthy Injury

The Montreal Canadiens expect one of their top centers to play in his first game in nearly a year.

Sep 30, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) plays the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images / David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens are optimistic about the 2024-2025 season. After an offseason of encouraging moves like signing forward Juraj Slafkovsky to a massive contract extension and acquiring sniper Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Entering the third year of head coach Martin St. Louis behind the bench, expectations are rising in Montreal.

Expectations are sure to rise further with the boost the Canadiens are expecting in the preseason. After missing the vast majority of the 2023-2024 season, center Kirby Dach is set to make his return to game action when the Habs welcome the Philadelphia Flyers to the Bell Centre.

Dach injured his knee in the second game of the Canadiens' 2023-2024 regular season. The ensuing surgery kept him out of the Habs' lineup for 11 months, but he's back and ready to show how much he can help this young Canadiens' team. Speaking ahead of his return, he discussed what he is trying to do during his first game action in nearly a year.

“I’m definitely looking still to take steps personally and making sure that I feel good and confident in my game,” he said, “and can get it back to a place where I felt it was last year and keep taking steps from that.

Dach will have some help getting comfortable again. Playing on the Canadiens' second line, he will be flanked by the newly-acquired Laine and Alex Newhook. The trio will look to build chemistry during their first shifts together, but each player is capable of scoring on their own. Laine is 30-goal scorer in the NHL and Newhook just had a career high offensive season with 15 goals and 34 points.

With veteran linemates, Dach will look to return to his scoring ways. Formerly a third overall pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Habs acquired him at the 2022 NHL Draft and immediately had the best offensive performance of his young career. In 212 NHL games, he has 33 goals and 99 points.

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