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In Hainsight: Dach Down and Out |
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Follow me @KarineHains for all updates about the Montreal Canadiens and women's hockey
Kirby Dach had an excellent training camp and was one of the Canadiens’ best player in the first game of the season but he left the second game early after being propelled on the Hawks’ bench by a big Jarred Tinordi hit. Before leaving the game, he seemed to be trying to test his knee on the ice during a stoppage of play, but the Canadiens haven’t said what the actual nature of the injury is. They had a day off yesterday, and today, we’ve been told that Dach has suffered a significant injury which will keep him out of action long-term and they are still in the process of getting a diagnostic.
This is a major blow to this young Canadiens’ team, Dach had a breakout year last season, and he looked even better this year. Some were already singing his praises and saying he would end up being the Canadiens’ first line-center because his ceiling was higher than Suzuki’s, they’ll have to stick a pin in that debate for now. For now, the main talking point will probably be Dach’s health. It’s the third serious injury he has suffered, and sources close to the Blackhawks have said in the past that they had traded him over concerns about his health, not because they had given up on him. When he acquired him though, Kent Hughes said that the team had done its homework and were getting a healthy player.
One man’s misfortune is another man’s gain however and just a couple of days ago, Alex Newhook was telling reporters that he was ready to go all in with the Habs and he didn’t need to be eased in as a winger, although he was happy to play wherever he was needed. Canadiens’ head coach Martin St-Louis has already confirmed that there would be no call-ups for now and he would use the 12 forwards he has on hand right now. He also added that everyone knew who his four centers would be going forward.
The CH spent a lot of time working on the power play this morning and has a result, we haven’t seen what its lines could be against the Wild tomorrow night. If it were up to me, the lines would be as follows:
Caufield-Suzuki-Anderson
Harvey-Pinard-Monahan-Slafkovsky
Pearson-Newhook-Gallagher
Pezzetta-Evans-Ylonen
I think Monahan is best suited to a top six center role than Newhook is, or maybe ever will be, but it’s too early to say that. Having Newhook with Pearson and Gallagher will result in a much-needed injection of speed on that third line and as St-Louis said, Monahan is able to be what the game needs him to be. He’ll fully understand what he needs to do to bring out the best of Juraj Slafkovsky and his hockey IQ is probably higher than Newhook’s.
This is terrible luck for the Canadiens so early in the season, especially since David Reinbacher reportedly suffered a knee injury in the Swiss league on Saturday and Emil Heineman didn’t finish Sunday’s game with the Rocket because of a concussion. You never know in hockey though, maybe Dach will be the sole casualty in the Canadiens’ line-up for quite some time, hopefully that will be the case. If the Habs decide to call someone up though, should it be Joshua Roy who’s got four points in two games in Laval or Joel Armia who’s got two goals and an assist in the first two games? That’s a debate for another time though, I’ve rambled enough for today.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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