The status of Chicago Blackhawks’ Kirby Dach remains up in the air as to where he will play this year. The 2019 third overall pick suffered a concussion during training camp and has spent the first part of the year on the injured list with a non-roster designation. However, the Blackhawks announced today that the team has activated Dach and assigned the 18-year-old to the Rockford Ice Hogs in the AHL for conditioning purposes.
That could give Dach another small window to show Chicago brass whether he is ready for NHL action as he now has a 14-day window before the team has to decide on whether to place him on their NHL roster. He is expected to start tonight in Rockford’s home opener. The team’s only other option once his conditioning stint is over is to return him to his junior team, the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. He cannot play in the AHL this season, conditioning stints excluded.
Dach was considered a top-10 prospect in the 2019 NHL draft, but many were surprised when Chicago selected Dach with the third overall pick. The 6-foot-4 Dach scored 25 goals and 73 points in 62 games in his draft year with the Blades, but quickly moved up in the draft.
Bring him up!
I’m still shocked that they passed on Turcotte. Hoping Dach has no residual effects from the concussion that persist.
Dach was a good pick at three in my opinion. They could have maybe used a dman like Byram, but a skilled, agitating forward is very valuable. He’ll be a stud in a couple years.
the Dach is in [the AHL]
He needs to get some playing time in Rockford , to develop his skills and make sure he is fully recovered , maybe if worse comes to worse with injuries , hopefully not Toews or Strome. Don’t want to rush him, needs to learn Hawks system in Rockford. If you rush him it will hinder his development into the pros. He is young. Rockford Ice Hogs for now.
Update Dach started his career with Rockford last night thou didn’t provide any scoring , as story on Rotoworld this morning he played well in his AHL. As a Black Hawk fanatic for many years , if researched you will see for most drafts in past , the Hawks have most of time taken a Defenseman with their first pick most years , don’t have a bat phone to Gm’s office but I am glad they changed their normal routine, they saw something in this kid, and he has had medical issues and don’t want to see him rushed up to big club yet, give him a chance to grow, get some experierence in minors, and develop. because Hawks are off to bad start your wanting to rush a prospect up is no call in that, I most certainly want the team to be better than 0-2-1 start and have a good season but Dach is young he has a future, don’t want him in NHL now, or any defenseman in organization that isn’t ready, as far as dictating who we pick in draft Byram, Turcotte that’s not my descision , hell I would like to have Gretzky on team doesn’t mean I will get him. Give the kid a chance.