2. How healthy is he Kirby Dach?
A second consecutive ACL injury in his right knee ended Dach’s season, and after undergoing surgery on February 28, the 24-year-old forward’s availability to start the season as Montreal’s second-line center is in question.
Injuries have been a problem for Dach throughout his six seasons in the NHL. He has played more than 65 games once and has played less than 60 in each of his three seasons with the Canadiens, including two games in 2023-24 due to ACL and MCL injuries in his right knee.
“We’re hoping he’ll be ready to go, either early in the season or early fall,” Hughes said. “But we certainly don’t intend to rush him in any way. We need to get Kirby back when Kirby is ready to be back physically and then be very careful and careful with his return to the game.”
If Dach is away for a while, Alex Newhook would likely move to the center of the second line, with Jake Evans, Joe Veleno and prospects Olivier Kapanen And Owen Beck competing for spots on the third and fourth rows.
3. How does a young core handle expectations after last season’s success?
Making the playoffs for the first time since 2021 was a good first step for Montreal. Now how can he go further?
The core group, led by the attackers Nicholas Suzuki, Cole Caufield And Juraj Slavkovskyand the defenders Lane Hutson And Kaiden Guhlewill be helped by a full season with Demidov, as well as the addition of defenseman Noah Dobson, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Islanders on June 27.
