Canadiens reportedly turned down multiple offers for Kirby Dach - here's what Montreal wanted instead
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Kirby Dach reportedly drew second-round offers in June and the Canadiens said no. Here's what Montreal wanted and why Edmonton and Calgary are lurking.
Multiple teams were believed to have offered the Canadiens a second-round pick for Kirby Dach in June, and Montreal said no.
That's the latest from Frank Seravalli, and it shows how real the interest was this summer.
"Multiple teams were believed to have offered the Canadiens a second-round pick for Kirby Dach in June."
- Frank Seravalli
- Frank Seravalli
The Canadiens weren't looking for picks.
Seravalli reports they wanted immediate roster help, or a chip to chase a bigger fish like Columbus winger Kirill Marchenko.
Montreal paid a first-round pick and a third-round pick to get Dach from Chicago in 2022 and stuck with him through the injuries, so a second-rounder was never going to move the needle.
Edmonton and Calgary are watching
Seravalli says the Oilers and Flames have both kept close tabs on Dach this month.
Edmonton's interest is described as strong, and the Oilers want him at some point, whether that's before the season, at the March 1 deadline or next summer as a free agent.
GM Stan Bowman picked Dach third overall in Chicago in 2019 and still believes only bad injury luck has held him back.
Calgary badly needs a No. 1 center, and at 6-foot-4 Dach checks the size box.
There were rumblings the Flames followed up with Montreal once camps opened.
Why Montreal can wait
The Canadiens don't have to rush anything.
Florian Xhekaj is waiver exempt, so they can let Dach compete for a spot and try to find his game again.
He signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal in July after Montreal made his $4 million qualifying offer a two-way contract, and he's headed for unrestricted free agency next summer.
Seravalli says the clock is ticking.
If a second-round pick wasn't enough in June, will the price change by the deadline?
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