After impressing in his first six games in the NHL, Kirby Dach is here to stay. The Chicago Blackhawks have confirmed that Dach will stay with the team for the “foreseeable future” instead of returning to the CHL. When the young forward plays his tenth game, the first year of his entry-level contract will be burned.
Dach, 18, was the third overall pick in June after an outstanding season for the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL. The 6’4″ forward could have gone back to dominate that league again, but a concussion during training camp actually may have changed that plan. With the injury, Dach was able to not only stick around the NHL team but get a conditioning stint in the minor leagues with the Rockford IceHogs. After showing well in the AHL, his strong six-game NHL career has come as no surprise.
Scoring his first NHL goal and recording two points, Dach will stay with the Blackhawks and try to get them out of their early season funk. The team is 3-6-2 through their first 11 games and have only scored 25 goals. Hopefully the young forward will be able to change those fortunes, but at the very least he’ll be continuing his development at the highest level.
He’s sticking around all season but not sure Colliton will be after last night
Lehner looked like he was outnumbered 10-1 for most of last night. But, at least some of his D-core managed to impersonate the L.A. Turnstiles for premature Halloween.
Lehner’s getting the Martin Jones treatment?
Could be! The poor guy works his butt off to get his career back on track, only to be stiffed by the Isles. Goes to CHI, only to see Craw get more love (but not much more). He was trying to make some athletic saves last night, but, man, where’s the cavalry?! With Martin Jones, I worry that he might have lingering concussion symptoms. I don’t think the league or teams’ medical staffs are looking after their netminders like they should.
Yeah. Our D is a joke. I feel a bit bad for Lehner that he has to deal with this.
This season will definitely test his mettle. @leprechaun may very well be right about, Colliton, too. Not sure he’s the right guy for the job, but with the roster the way it’s constructed now, can’t see very different results with a new voice on the bench, either.
Good luck trying to find a coach as good as Coach Q whose doing a great job with Florida so far. Once Bob gets it going Florida is gonna be dangerous!