CHICAGO | A wise old man once said it was dangerous to give up a hockey player before the age of 23. Was it Socrates, Plato or Yogi Berra? History didn’t hold it.
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However, one thing is certain. Kirby Dach, back in Chicago for the first time since the trade that brought him to the Canadiens last draft, will want to demonstrate the validity of that philosophy.
“Every time a player is switched to a different formation, he wants to play against her and show her that she made a mistake. Me too,” said the 21-year-old forward, the Hawks’ first-round pick (3rd overall) in 2019.
Dach is an apparently shy boy who doesn’t want to stir up too many stories and cultivate conflicts.
“I look forward to returning. It’s gonna be cool. I’ve already made plans to see some of the guys again. But it will be good to get this game out of the way and move on. »
Photo archive, AFP
Kirby Dash and Patrick Kane
Comrades of Kane
Slowed down by a wrist injury that required surgery, the young Alberta man never really got a chance to take off with the Blackhawks.
“He’s a guy who was limited to roles in the third and fourth rows. But whenever he had the opportunity to take on more responsibility, he did a good job, said Patrick Kane on the eve of the clash against the Canadian. I’m glad to see he’s doing well. He’s a good young man. He has a bright future. »
“It’s not easy when you’re drafted third overall. Everyone expects you to produce and be the future of the team. It was a difficult position for him,” added the Hawks star.
Canadian luck
Switched to the wing for a few weeks, Dach has already collected 17 points in 20 games. A harvest that puts him just nine shy of his personal peak.
Some will say he’s fortunate to be developing with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, which helps a lot. It’s not wrong, but others before him haven’t had the same success with the dynamic duo.
“A change of air, sometimes it feels good. He’s playing extremely well for us and it’s fun to see him succeed. We’re going to Chicago to try and win the match for him,” David Savard said Wednesday night.
In the same breath, the Canadian defenseman said he was very glad the Hawks gave up the roof.
“It’s perfect for us. Kirby is an excellent player. He’s proven that since the start of the season. He had a lot of potential. Everyone knew. It was just a matter of finding a good combination. »