2. What is health Kirby Dach?
A second consecutive LCA injury in its right knee ended the Dach season, and after being operated on February 28, the availability of the 24 -year -old striker to start the season while the Montreal second line center is in question.
Injuries were a problem for Dach for most of his six seasons in the NHL. He played more than 65 games once and played less than 60 in each of his three seasons with the Canadians, including two games in 2023-24 due to ACL and MCL injuries on the right knee.
“We hope he is ready to leave, either the start of the season, or a certain point in the early fall,” said Hughes. “But we certainly have no intention to rush it in any way. We must recover Kirby when Kirby is ready to return physically and then be very attentive and careful with his return to the game.”
If Dach was released for a while, Alex Newhook would probably move to the center of the second line, with Jake Evans,, Joe Veleno and the prospects Oliver Kapanen And Owen Beck Complete spots on the third and fourth lines.
3. How does a young group in the heart manage the expectations after the success of last season?
Making the playoffs for the first time since 2021 was a good first step for Montreal. Now, how can he push him further?
The central group, led by attackers Nick Suzuki,, Cole Caufield And Juraj Slafkovskyand defenders Lane Hutson And Kaiden Guhlewill be helped by a full season with Demidov, as well as the addition of defender Noah Dobson, who was Acquired in a business with the New York Icelanders June 27.
