What do Kirby Dach and Tim Stützle have in common? Both skaters were selected third in the first round among amateur players.
Then the comparisons stop.
While Stützle was quick to convince that he is a player who can make a difference and, at the same time, force the hand of the Ottawa Senators managers to grant him an eight-year contract worth more than $8 million. per season, Dach has just accepted a four-year contract with the Canadiens, an agreement that will allow him to collect nearly $3.4 million per season.
He has reason to be delighted with the turn of events, since many believe that the Canadiens should have imitated the New York Islanders by securing the services of Alexander Romanov for three years with an annual salary of 2.5 M$.
Very little is known regarding Dach. We must believe that Kent Hughes and his group have plunged into their memory to bring to the surface the performances of the young man in the junior ranks.
What happened in Chicago? Why does he take so long to justify such a prestigious choice? After all, being chosen third means that the young man represents a fine prospect, a player perhaps no exception, but capable of exerting a significant impact within a professional formation.
Stützle lived up to expectations.
throw in the towel
Dach suffered a couple of injuries which held back his progress and meant he never got to stand out. What’s even more intriguing regarding this giant format player is the impatience of the Blackhawks decision makers. Because we threw in the towel. We quickly decided. Dach certainly wasn’t among the organization’s top six skaters. We did not hesitate to part with it.
Can we therefore conclude that Hughes showed great generosity? Is a four-year agreement justified? Isn’t a commitment of more than $13 million exaggerated?
The decision makers of the CH know that they have acquired a talented player, even if he had only one productive season with the Blades of Saskatoon, in the Western Junior League. They took advantage of a particular context to obtain an athlete with three years as a professional behind the tie.
However, it remains a project. Only 19 goals in 152 games in the NHL, these are statistics that stick to a player playing in the fourth line.
However, he’s a 21-year-old with professional hockey experience.
We cross our fingers
Now we hope.
It is hoped that, in a new environment, we will obtain from Dach the outbreak that the Blackhawks general staff hoped for. In this respect, don’t the decision-makers of this team have a large share of responsibility in the development of their hopes? Did they make the right decisions with Dach?
His departure from Chicago does not please Jonathan Toews who appreciated Dach’s talent last season, especially during the last weeks of the calendar. The captain said he spied on a more comfortable and confident player.
Does the Canadian take a risk?
Considering that Dach is only 21 years old, having already played more than 150 games in the National League, it will be up to the decision makers of the Habs to ensure that their investment will produce the expected dividends.
This is the next step to take.