Kirby Dach Bio
Kirby Dach is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL entry draft, he has built a reputation as a tall, skilled forward with a pass-first style of play. Since turning professional, Dach has contributed offensively at every level, including during playoff runs and international tournaments representing Canada.
Early Life and Background
Kirby Dach was born on January 21, 2001, in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, to parents Dale and Hillary. He began playing ice hockey around the age of five, practicing on a backyard rink and on Garner Lake near the family’s cabin. A childhood fan of the Edmonton Oilers, he often attended games at Rexall Place with his father, experiences that helped spark his passion for the sport.
Dach played minor ice hockey above his age level for much of his youth, including his time with the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers of the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL). At just 13 years old, he recorded 100 points in 33 games, breaking Tyler Benson’s previous 84-point league record. That performance quickly established him as one of the top young prospects in Canadian hockey.
Path to Hockey
Dach’s standout minor hockey career led the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) to select him second overall in the 2016 bantam draft. He signed with the team immediately afterward, and mid-season injuries to the Blades’ forward core allowed him to be promoted as an underage player late in the 2016–17 campaign. On February 10, 2017, he scored his first major junior goal against the Moose Jaw Warriors, finishing the year with six goals and 10 points across 19 games.
Joining the Blades on a full-time basis in 2017–18, Dach produced seven goals and 39 assists in 52 games, demonstrating his playmaking ability. In January 2019, he was named alternate captain of the Blades and captain of Team Orr at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He closed his WHL draft year with 25 goals and 48 assists in 62 games, ranking third among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final 2019 draft rankings, leading to his third-overall selection by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Kirby Dach Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Dach made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks on October 20, 2019, against the Washington Capitals, and scored his first NHL goal two days later against Marc-André Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights. He finished his rookie campaign with eight goals and 15 assists in 64 games, a total comparable to those of fellow top picks Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. His point production offered an early glimpse of his offensive potential at the professional level.
During the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, played in a bubble format in Edmonton and Toronto, Dach rejoined the Blackhawks for their qualifying-round upset of the Edmonton Oilers. He was widely considered one of Chicago’s best players in the series, registering four assists in the first three games. He then scored his first career playoff goal on August 13, 2020, against the Vegas Golden Knights, becoming just the sixth teenaged player to score a playoff goal for the Blackhawks and the first to do so since Jeremy Roenick in 1989. A wrist injury suffered at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships limited him to 18 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2019–2022)
The 2021–22 season proved difficult for both Dach and the Blackhawks organization, with the team undergoing substantial management turnover. Dach recorded only nine goals and 17 assists in 70 games and struggled in the faceoff circle. Despite being paired with high-caliber linemates such as Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane, his offensive output did not meet expectations, leading to widespread discussions about a potential trade.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2022–Present)
During the 2022 NHL entry draft, the Blackhawks traded Dach to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the 13th overall pick and a third-round selection. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes expressed confidence that Dach could realize his potential despite his prior struggles. On September 7, 2022, Dach signed a four-year, $13.45 million contract extension with Montreal, committing to the franchise through 2026.
Dach scored his first goal as a Canadien on October 17, 2022, sealing a 3–2 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Although acquired to play centre, he was moved to the wing on the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, a configuration that produced strong early results under head coach Martin St. Louis. By midseason, following an injury to Sean Monahan, he returned to the centre position. Despite missing time due to injuries in February and March 2023, he set a new career high with 38 points across 58 games.
Entering the 2023–24 season, Dach was paired with Juraj Slafkovský and Alex Newhook, recording two assists in the team’s first game together. However, on October 14, 2023, he suffered a season-ending injury after being checked into the boards by Jarred Tinordi, tearing both his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL). In the opening game of the 2024–25 season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he registered his 100th career NHL point, finishing with 22 points in 57 games before undergoing right knee surgery on February 28, 2025, which ended his campaign prematurely.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 4 inches tall and roughly 220 pounds, Dach combines size with a pass-first offensive approach, frequently setting up linemates rather than shooting. His combination of reach, vision, and two-way responsibility has allowed him to play both centre and wing effectively. Coaches have praised his ability to generate offense through structured plays and his willingness to compete along the boards and in the faceoff circle when healthy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Dach’s signature moments are his first NHL goal against Marc-André Fleury, his first playoff goal in 2020 that placed him alongside Jeremy Roenick in Blackhawks history, and his overtime winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins in his early days with the Canadiens. He also scored the decisive shootout goal in his return to the United Center as a Canadien, punctuating his move to Montreal with a memorable performance against his former team.
Kirby Dach Career Wins
Although Kirby Dach has not captured a Stanley Cup championship, his professional résumé includes playoff series victories, international gold medals, and notable individual milestones across multiple leagues. His career has been defined more by development and perseverance than by championship hardware, with several standout achievements scattered throughout his time in the NHL and with Hockey Canada.
NHL Highlights
Dach’s most significant NHL team success came during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, when the Blackhawks upset the Edmonton Oilers in the qualifying round before being eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights. He also posted career highs in points with the Montreal Canadiens, reached the 100-point career milestone in 2024, and signed a long-term contract extension in 2022. He recorded his first overtime winner for the Canadiens against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Dach won a gold medal with Team Alberta at the 2016 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup and helped Canada capture gold at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring a first-period goal in the final against Sweden. He was named captain of Canada at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where the team earned a silver medal in his absence following his wrist injury.
Kirby Dach Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kirby Dach grew up in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, with his parents Dale and Hillary, both of whom supported his early hockey development. His father often took him to Edmonton Oilers games at Rexall Place, fostering his lifelong connection to the sport and the city of Edmonton.
Personal Life
Dach’s younger brother, Colton Dach, was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round, 62nd overall, of the 2021 NHL entry draft. According to Colton, the biggest difference between them is that Kirby is a pass-first player while he is a shoot-first player. On January 3, 2025, the brothers faced each other professionally for the first time, a 4–2 Blackhawks victory over the Canadiens at the United Center.
2025 Season Performance
Kirby Dach began the 2025–26 season with renewed momentum, recording seven points, including five goals and two assists, through his first 15 games with the Montreal Canadiens. His early production suggested that he had recovered well from the right knee surgery that ended his 2024–25 campaign, and he continued to play a top-six role within the team’s forward group.
On November 15, 2025, during a game against the Boston Bruins, Dach suffered a fractured foot that forced him out of the lineup. The Canadiens announced that he was expected to miss four to six weeks, a setback that temporarily halted his offensive rhythm and placed additional pressure on the team’s depth chart.
Despite the injury, Dach’s 2025–26 campaign had already shown flashes of his two-way playmaking ability and reinforced his importance to Montreal’s long-term plans. With his contract running through 2026 and a clear role on the team once healthy, his outlook for the remainder of the season depends largely on his recovery timeline and his ability to return to peak form.