The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens could suddenly have another reason to talk trade, and Kirby Dach is the name worth watching.
Elliotte Friedman reported Tuesday that Edmonton currently has no right-shot centres, adding that this is why there is plenty of chatter around Dach and pointing to his history with Oilers general manager Stan Bowman. That does not mean the Canadiens and Oilers are actively negotiating a trade, but it gives the speculation something far more substantial than a simple roster-fit exercise.
The timing is what makes this particularly interesting for Montreal. The Canadiens spent much of the summer pursuing Kirill Marchenko, according to Friedman, even exploring creative structures involving third teams. Toronto ultimately landed Marchenko because Columbus valued Matthew Knies more highly than anything Montreal could assemble.
Now Kent Hughes has to decide what comes next.
In my view, Dach is suddenly one of Montreal’s most fascinating trade assets. He is young enough to remain part of the Canadiens’ plans, but his contract, handedness and Edmonton’s specific roster need could also make him a logical piece in a much bigger Canadiens transaction.
Why the Edmonton Oilers Keep Getting Connected to Kirby Dach
There is a very obvious reason the Edmonton Oilers would investigate Dach.
He is a 6-foot-4, 221-pound right-handed centre, precisely the general player profile Edmonton has been searching for. Oilers GM Stan Bowman discussed the need this summer, saying the club would love to find a right-shot centre who can handle important faceoffs.
Friedman took that one step further on September 29, reporting: “That’s why you hear a lot of Kirby Dach.” He also noted the connection between Dach and Bowman. Bowman was running Chicago when the Blackhawks selected Dach third overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
But there is an important hockey wrinkle here.
Dach isn’t a perfect match for every attribute Edmonton has discussed. His faceoff results have historically been a weakness. He won 41.4 percent of his draws in 2025-26 after posting 40.3 percent the previous season. That matters because Edmonton isn’t merely searching for someone who shoots right, it wants a player who can fill a matchup role.
That makes Dach intriguing rather than automatic.
Kirby Dach’s Production Makes This a Difficult Canadiens Decision
Dach’s offensive numbers don’t scream untouchable player. He produced eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 37 regular-season games last year before adding four goals and an assist in 19 playoff appearances. Montreal subsequently signed him to a one-year, $3.6-million contract for 2026-27.
His availability is the larger concern. Dach has been limited to 96 regular-season games over the past three seasons with Montreal because of injuries.
That history suppresses his trade value.
At the same time, centres with Dach’s combination of size, age and handedness aren’t easy to find. That scarcity is exactly why Edmonton’s reported interest makes sense.
NHLTradeRumor.com Kirby Dach Performance Trend
Kirby Dach: Three-Year Scoring Trend
The trend illustrates exactly why Dach is difficult to value. His production rate has been respectable when available, but availability has prevented him from establishing the kind of consistent season that would dramatically increase his market value.
The Salary Cap Is the Biggest Obstacle to an Oilers–Canadiens Trade
This is where the rumor becomes much more complicated.
We currently project Edmonton at approximately $303,334 in cap space, with a $103.697-million projected cap hit against the NHL’s $104-million ceiling. Montreal currently has approximately $1.891 million available.
Dach carries a $3.6-million cap hit.
So Edmonton cannot simply acquire him and worry about the cap later.
NHLTradeRumor.com Oilers–Canadiens Salary Cap Calculator
Kirby Dach Trade Cap Calculator
25% Montreal retention: Edmonton receives a $2.70M hit and needs roughly $2.40M of additional room.
50% Montreal retention: Edmonton receives a $1.80M hit and needs roughly $1.50M of additional room.
Those calculations are intentionally simplified and use current projected cap space. Actual cap accounting can change with roster transactions, injuries, daily accrual and salary retained or returned in a trade.
What they demonstrate is more important: an Oilers trade for Dach almost certainly requires money moving out of Edmonton or some form of retention.
That could actually work in Montreal’s favour. Hughes would have leverage because Edmonton isn’t shopping for a generic bottom-six centre. Friedman has identified a specific organizational weakness.
NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index: Kirby Dach
My model currently places Dach at 67/100.
NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index
Right-shot centre | Age 25 | $3.6M cap hit
The biggest factors keeping Dach below the elite trade-value range are durability, his expiring contract and uneven offensive production.
The factors pushing him upward are much harder to manufacture: he’s 25, big, right-handed and capable of playing centre.
Montreal Missing on Kirill Marchenko Changes the Equation
This is the part I find most interesting.
Friedman reported that the Montreal Canadiens were aggressive throughout the summer in trying to land Marchenko. Montreal apparently became creative late in the process, exploring third-team possibilities that could handle salary or provide Columbus with different players. But Toronto’s willingness to surrender Matthew Knies changed everything.
The Marchenko rumor can now be graded against an actual outcome.
Montreal’s interest was real, but the Canadiens didn’t get the player. Toronto acquired Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins for a package headlined by Knies, and Marchenko agreed to a six-year extension worth $12.5 million annually beginning next season.
That matters for the Dach conversation because it tells us Hughes was prepared to make a significant roster-altering move.
The question becomes whether he still wants one.
If Montreal believes another impact forward will become available, Dach’s $3.6-million contract could become useful as either a trade asset or a way to create additional flexibility.
I would not trade Dach simply because Edmonton is interested. His value to Montreal could rise substantially if he remains healthy and establishes himself early this season.
But I also wouldn’t dismiss the chatter.
When a respected insider specifically identifies a player, a team need and an existing relationship with the general manager, it’s worth monitoring.
What Would Make a Kirby Dach Trade Realistic?
The first thing I’d watch isn’t a reported asking price.
It’s Edmonton’s cap sheet.
If the Oilers clear several million dollars through another transaction, the Dach speculation becomes much more interesting. If they don’t, Montreal retention, salary coming back or a more complicated multi-team transaction would be necessary.
The second issue is Dach’s performance.
A healthy, productive first month would make him more valuable to Montreal — but it could simultaneously make him considerably more attractive around the league.
That’s why this is a fascinating situation for Kent Hughes.
Montreal missed its swing at Marchenko. Edmonton still appears to have an obvious roster hole. And Dach is entering a season in which his contract and long-term future will have to be addressed again.
There is no confirmed Oilers–Canadiens negotiation at this point.
But unlike a random trade proposal, there is now enough connective tissue to keep watching.
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