Jeff Gorton was adamant when we met last Sunday: Kirby Dach is a center. Circumstances, however, changed the situation.
What were these circumstances? A hit-or-miss start from Dach in the middle, instant success for Sean Monahan in that position and an unexpected outbreak from Dach on the wing.
But then, in life, circumstances change. Monahan remained strong at center but suffered an injury Monday in Vancouver. The CH therefore faced the Kraken the next day, with three centers who shared the work of four trios.
Dach, he has slowed down, even if his companions Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield do not stop. Scoreless in his last 12 games, he has only two assists in his last six outings.
The Los Angeles Kings land at the Bell Center on Saturday. It’s still unclear whether Monahan will make the match, but his absence from practice on Friday doesn’t bode well. If Martin St-Louis wants a fourth center in addition to Suzuki, Christian Dvorak and Jake Evans, he has two options: Dach and Rem Pitlick.
The qualities
Dach himself assures us: he still sees himself as a center, his natural position. “I will always gravitate to this position,” replied the big right-hander.
Suzuki agrees. “He is reliable in our zone. I know I can trust him if I’m the last to fall back and he’s deep in the territory. We got him to play center and it just helped that he bonded with Cole and me. I’m sure eventually he’ll return to the center and he’ll be good there. »
Face-offs were among the failure factors. He has only won 37% this season, after a downright rotten 2021-2022 campaign. His success rate of 32.8% last season was indeed the worst in NHL history (minimum 500 faceoffs) since this data was compiled (1997-1998).
When we put him with Suzuki and Caufield, it wasn’t just to keep him from taking face-offs. His game fits in well with them. But I also thought that not worrying about face-offs would help him get off to a good start.
Martin St Louis
The head coach recalled that a difficult evening at the face-offs can become “heavy” for a player. “There can be an accumulation effect over seven, eight, ten games. But Kirby plays well, he shows the kind of impact he can have. I’m pretty sure he’s going to have the same impact whether he takes face-offs or not. »
Whatever happens with Monahan, the benefits of a positive experience of Dach in the center would be multiple for the CH. Evans drives the fourth line, but with no goals, four assists and a -9 differential in 26 games, he doesn’t necessarily have the case to secure his place in the lineup.
Otherwise, the future of a healthy Monahan will be discussed as the trade deadline approaches. His value within the Habs is inescapable, but Kent Hughes will certainly receive calls for his player at the end of the contract. His decision will be more informed if he knows a little more about what Dach can offer as a center.
Suzuki and the complexes
It was fun that center management was a topic of discussion on the eve of visiting the Kings and Phillip Danault.
“He’s tough to face. I’ve seen him be very good against other first-line centers. He’s underrated, but our dressing room knows what he’s capable of,” Suzuki recalled.
Neither Dvorak nor Evans managed to replace Danault in the role of the center extinguisher against the best opposing elements. Danault, he ended up in the top 8 in the Selke Trophy ballot for a fourth straight season, in 2021-22.
Except that in the meantime, Suzuki has developed as a first-line center, being mentioned more and more consistently by opposing coaches when it comes to things to watch against the Habs.
Suzuki will have quite a test on Saturday, since in all logic, he will face Danault or Anze Kopitar, two of the best defensive centers in the NHL.
“When you come to the NHL, you’re a little more intimidated. I’m not saying Nick was before, but you can be by the guys you looked at, recalled St-Louis. You end up playing and comparing yourself. Nick sees himself on the same level as them. When you see yourself at the same level, at least you don’t lose the battle before it begins. »