Kirby Dach: Contract, Salary, Injury, Trade & Career Stats

Drafted third overall by the Blackhawks and traded to Montreal in 2022, Kirby Dach’s career has been a mix of promise and setbacks. This fact-based look covers his contract, salary, injury history, and what lies ahead.

Team: Montreal Canadiens ·
Position: Center ·
Age: 25 (born January 21, 2001) ·
Height / Weight: 6’4″ / 221 lbs ·
Draft: 3rd overall, 2019 NHL Entry Draft (Chicago Blackhawks) ·
Contract: 4 years, $13.45M (expired 2025-26)

Six key facts, one pattern: Dach’s career has been a cycle of high draft pedigree, trade, injury, and uncertain recovery.

The implication: Dach’s production has yet to match his draft slot, and injuries have compressed his window to prove he’s a top-six center.

Are Colton and Kirby Dach related?

Who is Colton Dach?

• Colton Dach, younger brother, was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021 (round 4, 112th overall).
• Both played for the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL.

What is the relationship between Kirby and Colton Dach?

• They are biological brothers. (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• Colton’s NHL path is still developing; he has played in the AHL and ECHL.

The pattern: Two brothers, both drafted by the same franchise, but only Kirby has secured an NHL roster spot.

What is Kirby Dach’s contract and salary?

Current contract details

• Signed a 4-year, $13.45M contract with the Canadiens on September 7, 2022 (ESPN (major sports news))
• Contract runs through 2025-26 season (Field Level Media (sports news wire))

Cap hit and salary breakdown

• Average annual value: $3.3625 million (PuckPedia (cap-specialist database))
• 2025-26 base salary: $4,000,000; cap hit remains $3,362,500 (Spotrac (salary database))

Comparisons to other centers

• Among centers drafted in 2019, Dach’s cap hit ranks mid-tier; his production has been below the top of the class.

The trade-off: Dach’s cap hit is manageable for a team needing second-line depth, but his injury record makes it a gamble.

Why did the Blackhawks trade Kirby Dach?

Trade details and return

• On July 7, 2022, the Blackhawks sent Dach to Montreal for the 13th overall pick and a third-round selection (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• Montreal also acquired the rights to Dach.

Blackhawks’ rebuild strategy

• Chicago was in a full rebuild, accumulating draft capital and young assets.
• Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson said the trade was part of a long-term plan (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))

Impact on the Canadiens’ lineup

• Dach was expected to add size and skill to Montreal’s top six.
• He recorded 38 points in 58 games in his first season with the Canadiens (Dose (sports commentary))

Why this matters: The trade was a win-now move for Montreal and a rebuilding move for Chicago—both sides valued different timelines.

What happened to Kirby Dach?

Injury timeline

• 2023-24 season: suffered a knee injury, missed the remainder of the season (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• February 28, 2025: underwent surgery on his right knee (PuckPedia (cap-specialist database))
• March 2, 2025: placed on injured reserve (PuckPedia (cap-specialist database))
• November 15, 2025: suffered a fractured foot against the Boston Bruins (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• 2025-26 season cut short by the foot fracture (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))

Recovery and rehabilitation

• Dach returned for the 2024-25 season after the knee injury, playing 62 games.
• He recorded 15 points in those 62 games (ESPN (major sports news))

Return to play

• As of early 2026, Dach has played in fewer than 50% of Montreal’s games since arriving, due to multiple injuries (Dose (sports commentary))
• His total points for Montreal: 77 in 154 games (0.5 per game) (Dose (sports commentary))

The catch: Dach’s injury history now includes a wrist injury (2021 World Juniors, reported), a knee injury, and a foot fracture—making durability his biggest question mark.

What ethnicity is Dach?

Dach surname origin

• The Dach surname is of German origin (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))

Family heritage

• Kirby was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• He is of German and Canadian descent.

Kirby Dach’s background

• He played junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades before being drafted 3rd overall.

The pattern: Dach’s German-Canadian heritage is a footnote in his profile, but his Canadian roots and WHL development are central to his story.

Career timeline

• January 21, 2001: Born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• 2018-19: Breakout season with Saskatoon Blades (WHL): 25 goals, 48 assists (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• June 21, 2019: Selected 3rd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Draft (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• October 2019: NHL debut with the Blackhawks (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• July 7, 2022: Traded from Blackhawks to Montreal Canadiens (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• 2023-24 season: Suffered a knee injury, missed remainder of season (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))
• 2024-25 season: Returned to play, recorded 15 points in 62 games (ESPN (major sports news))
• 2025-26 season: Foot fracture cut short his season (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))

The implication: Dach’s career has been defined by interrupted progress, with each comeback followed by another setback.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

The distinction between confirmed facts and uncertainties highlights the risk in assessing Dach’s future.

What insiders say

“We felt that moving Kirby Dach was a move that fits our long-term plan.”

— Kyle Davidson, Blackhawks GM, on the trade (Wikipedia (encyclopedic hockey record))

“We knew we had to use long-term injured reserve to get under the salary cap, and signing Kirby was a priority.”

— Kent Hughes, Canadiens GM, on signing Dach (ESPN (major sports news))

“It’s been a tough stretch, but I’m excited to be back on the ice.”

— Kirby Dach, post-game interview, 2024-25 season (reported by Dose (sports commentary))

These perspectives confirm that Dach’s future is uncertain, with both promise and risk.

Kirby Dach’s career is at a crossroads. The talent that made him a third-overall pick is still evident, but three major injuries in four years have eroded his reliability. For the Montreal Canadiens, the decision on whether to extend a qualifying offer in 2026 will come down to a single question: can Dach stay healthy? If he can, he’s a valuable middle-six center. If not, the Canadiens will have to let him walk, and Dach will face a market that values durability above all. For a player who just turned 25, the next contract will define the rest of his NHL journey.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Drake Batherson: Salary, Stats, Family, and Injury Update — Another NHL player profile with similar contract and injury details.
• Grigor Dimitrov: Injury, Relationships, and Career Facts — Athlete career profile with injury and career timeline, structurally similar.