Kirby Dach Bio
Kirby Dach is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on January 21, 2001, in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, he was selected in the first round, third overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL entry draft. Dach began his professional career early into the 2019–20 season and has since made significant contributions to his teams, showcasing his skills as a playmaking centre. After four seasons with the Blackhawks organization, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2022, where he has continued to develop his game under head coach Martin St. Louis.
Early Life and Background
Kirby Dach grew up in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, as the son of Dale and Hillary Dach. He began playing ice hockey around the age of five, practicing on a backyard rink and on Garner Lake near his family’s cabin. A childhood fan of the Edmonton Oilers, Dach frequently attended games at Rexall Place with his father, developing his passion for the sport at a young age.
Dach played minor ice hockey above his age level throughout his development. He was part of the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers of the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL), where his exceptional talent became evident. At just 13 years old, he recorded 100 points in 33 games, breaking Tyler Benson’s league record of 84 points and signaling his potential as an elite prospect.
Path to Hockey
Dach’s junior career began when the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) selected him second overall in the 2016 bantam draft. He immediately signed with the team and was promoted mid-season for the 2016–17 campaign due to injuries in the forward core. On February 10, 2017, he scored his first major junior goal against the Moose Jaw Warriors. He appeared in 19 games that season, scoring six goals and 10 points.
Joining the Blades full-time for the 2017–18 season, Dach recorded seven goals and 39 assists in 52 games. In January 2019, he was named alternate captain for the remainder of the 2018–19 season and was named captain for Team Orr at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. He finished the WHL season with 25 goals and 48 assists in 62 games, ranking third amongst North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting Services for the 2019 NHL entry draft.
Kirby Dach Career
Chicago Blackhawks (2019–2022)
After being selected third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL entry draft, Dach signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team in July 2019. He made his NHL debut against the Washington Capitals on October 20, 2019, and scored his first NHL goal a few days later against Marc-André Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights on October 22. Despite the season being shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dach finished his rookie year with eight goals and 15 assists in 64 games.
During the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs held in the Edmonton and Toronto bubble format, Dach was widely credited as one of the Blackhawks’ best players in their upset victory over the Edmonton Oilers. He scored his first career playoff goal on August 13 versus the Vegas Golden Knights, becoming just the sixth teenaged player to score a playoff goal for the Blackhawks and the first since Jeremy Roenick in 1989. He finished the playoffs with one goal and five assists across nine games.
Montreal Canadiens (2022–Present)
During the 2022 NHL entry draft, Dach was traded by the Blackhawks to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the 13th overall pick and a third-round selection. Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes stated that he believed Dach could live up to his potential despite his struggles in preceding seasons. On September 7, 2022, he signed a four-year, $13.45 million extension with the Canadiens.
Dach scored his first goal with the Canadiens on October 17, 2022, giving the team a 3–2 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Though initially acquired to play centre, he was experimentally moved to the wing on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, with the configuration garnering strong initial results. He credited head coach Martin St. Louis for allowing him to enjoy the game again. After his first game back at the United Center in Chicago following the trade, he scored the decisive shootout goal in a 3–2 win over his former team. Dach was eventually moved back to centre by midseason following an injury to Sean Monahan. Despite playing only 58 games due to injuries, he set a new career high of 38 points.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dach is known for his playmaking ability and vision on the ice. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, he combines size with skill, making him an effective centre who can drive possession and create scoring opportunities for his linemates. His hockey IQ and passing ability have been highlighted by coaches throughout his career, though his faceoff skills have been an area of continued development.
Notable Events and Milestones
In the opening game of the 2024–25 season versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dach registered his 100th career NHL point. However, his season took a significant turn when he suffered torn ACL and MCL injuries on October 14 after being checked into the boards by Blackhawks defenceman Jarred Tinordi, requiring season-ending surgery. He underwent surgery to his right knee on February 28, 2025, prematurely ending his 2024–25 campaign with 22 points through 57 games.
Kirby Dach Career Wins
Throughout his career, Dach has accumulated notable achievements at both the junior and professional levels. His junior career included multiple high-scoring seasons with the Saskatoon Blades, while his professional career has been highlighted by consistent point production despite injury setbacks.
NHL Highlights
At the NHL level, Dach has appeared in over 200 career games with both the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens. His most productive season came in 2022–23 with the Canadiens, when he recorded 38 points. He reached the 100-career point milestone during the 2024–25 season opener against Toronto. In the 2020 playoffs, he contributed to the Blackhawks’ upset victory over the Oilers in the qualifying round, scoring his first career playoff goal. With the Canadiens qualifying for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Dach saw his first postseason action since 2020.
International Achievements
Dach represented Canada internationally at multiple youth tournaments. He won a gold medal with Team Alberta at the 2016 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup. The following year, he competed at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge with Team Canada Black, finishing seventh. In August 2018, he participated in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring two goals and five assists, including a first-period goal in the gold medal game victory over Sweden. He was named captain of Canada’s national junior team for the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Kirby Dach Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kirby Dach comes from a family with deep roots in hockey. His 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 brothers have different playing styles, with Kirby being a pass-first player while Colton describes himself as shoot-first. The Dach brothers competed against each other for the first time in their professional careers on January 3, 2025, when the Blackhawks faced the Canadiens at the United Center.
Kirby is also a maternal cousin of Keaton Verhoeff, a top prospect for the 2026 NHL entry draft.
Personal Life
Dach maintains a presence on social media, where he connects with fans of his career. His professional journey has been closely followed in both Chicago and Montreal, where he has built a reputation as a skilled playmaking centre with the potential for continued growth in the NHL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 season presented challenges for Dach as he worked to return from the knee injury that ended his previous campaign. Collecting seven points (five goals, two assists) through his team’s first 15 games, he suffered a fractured foot during a game against the Boston Bruins on November 15. He was expected to miss four to six weeks of action but ultimately missed 31 games before returning.
After returning from the foot injury, Dach missed a further 11 games due to an upper-body injury in March. He appeared in 37 regular season games total, recording eight goals and seven assists, with his usage diminishing over time as the Canadiens managed his recovery and development. With the Canadiens qualifying for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs and facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, Dach saw his first postseason action since 2020.