The Montreal Canadiens may suddenly have another way to pursue Kirill Marchenko, and it starts with the Edmonton Oilers showing interest in Kirby Dach.
That does not mean a three-team blockbuster between Montreal, Edmonton and the Columbus Blue Jackets is being negotiated. But it does create an intriguing trade scenario for Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes. If Edmonton is prepared to pay meaningful value for Dach, Montreal could potentially turn that interest into the additional trade capital needed to make a much stronger offer for Marchenko.
That is where this rumor becomes much more interesting than a simple Dach trade. Marchenko has developed into a legitimate top-six scorer, recording 27 goals and 67 points in 76 games last season. Dach, meanwhile, remains a fascinating reclamation project with size, skill and centre versatility, but injuries have prevented Montreal from getting a complete picture of what he can become.
For the Canadiens, the question is no longer simply whether they should trade Dach. It is whether Edmonton’s interest could help Hughes turn one uncertain asset into the type of established offensive player Montreal has been searching for.
NHLTradeRumor.com Three-Year Scoring Trend
Comparing Kirby Dach and Kirill Marchenko’s recent NHL production
Why Edmonton Oilers Interest in Kirby Dach Changes the Conversation
Kirby Dach is one of those NHL players whose trade value is difficult to define because teams are not only evaluating what he has produced, they are evaluating what they believe he can still become.
Dach is 6-foot-4, can play through the middle and possesses the type of puck skill that originally made him the third-overall selection in the 2019 NHL Draft. Montreal clearly still sees enough potential to keep working with him. The Canadiens signed Dach to a one-year, $3.6 million contract for 2026-27 after he registered eight goals and 15 points in 37 regular-season games last season.
But there is another side to the evaluation. Dach has been limited to 96 regular-season appearances over the past three seasons. That makes it difficult for Montreal to simply pencil him into a major long-term role and assume everything will work itself out.
This is why Edmonton’s reported interest matters.
If another organization still views Dach as a potentially impactful top-six forward, the Canadiens suddenly have leverage. Hughes does not have to sell low simply because Dach has experienced injury problems. He can establish a price and determine whether another team values Dach’s upside enough to make Montreal reconsider where he fits.
For the Oilers, the attraction is understandable. Edmonton remains built around winning now, and adding a big forward with centre experience and offensive upside could be appealing if the acquisition cost fits its plans.
The more important question for Montreal is what Hughes could do with the value coming back.
Could Kirby Dach Become the Trade Chip That Helps Montreal Land Kirill Marchenko?
This is where the Columbus Blue Jackets become important.
Marchenko is not merely another middle-six winger. He followed a 74-point 2024-25 campaign with 27 goals and 40 assists for 67 points in 76 games in 2025-26. That level of consistent offence makes him exactly the type of player teams are reluctant to surrender.
He also carries a manageable $3.85 million cap hit for 2026-27 before becoming a restricted free agent. From Montreal’s perspective, that contract structure adds another layer of appeal because the Canadiens would not simply be acquiring a rental.
Marchenko’s fit in Montreal is easy to imagine. He brings size at 6-foot-3, a right shot, legitimate scoring ability and enough playmaking to avoid being labelled as only a finisher. He could immediately give Montreal another dangerous option inside its top six.
But I do not believe Kirby Dach by himself would be enough to convince Columbus to move Marchenko. The production gap is simply too significant right now.
That is why Edmonton’s involvement becomes intriguing. Montreal could potentially use an Oilers offer to create additional assets, improve the structure of its package or simply increase the overall flexibility Hughes has when speaking with Columbus.
Canadiens Salary Cap Trade Calculator
What a simplified Dach-for-Marchenko salary swap could mean for Montreal
Montreal Could Make the Money Work – The Trade Value Is Harder
The cap calculation is actually one of the easier parts of this hypothetical.
If Montreal moved Dach’s $3.6 million cap hit and acquired Marchenko’s $3.85 million hit, the difference is only $250,000. Using Montreal’s current available-cap-space figure, the Canadiens could theoretically absorb that difference without requiring Columbus to retain salary.
The real challenge is convincing the Blue Jackets that the hockey value coming back is sufficient.
Columbus has little reason to move a productive 26-year-old winger on an affordable contract unless the return addresses another significant organizational need. A futures-heavy package may not necessarily accomplish that. The Blue Jackets could reasonably seek an NHL-ready player capable of stepping into their lineup immediately.
That is another reason this situation deserves attention. Montreal may need more than prospects and draft picks. If Columbus wants young, NHL-established talent, Hughes has to decide which parts of the Canadiens’ roster he is actually willing to expose.
NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index
Proprietary editorial model based on production, age, contract, role and availability
Our model suggests Dach would need to be accompanied by meaningful additional value for Montreal to approach Marchenko’s current market value. Edmonton’s interest becomes relevant if it allows the Canadiens to acquire another NHL asset, premium prospect or draft capital that can be redirected toward Columbus.
The Canadiens Should Not Trade Dach Simply Because Edmonton Calls
This is the part of the conversation where patience matters.
Trading Dach now only makes sense if Montreal is converting uncertainty into something more valuable and more predictable. Moving him for a collection of secondary assets would not necessarily improve the Canadiens.
But moving Dach as part of a chain of transactions that ultimately lands a player like Marchenko would be completely different.
My view is that Marchenko is a much cleaner fit for where Montreal’s roster is headed. He has already demonstrated that he can produce at a top-six level, he is entering his prime years, and his scoring profile addresses something Montreal continually needs more of: players who can finish chances.
Dach still possesses meaningful upside, but Montreal has been waiting several seasons for health and production to arrive at the same time. There comes a point when a general manager has to evaluate not only the player’s ceiling, but the opportunity cost of continuing to wait.
If Edmonton is willing to place significant value on Dach today, Hughes has to listen.
Could Edmonton Really Trigger a Canadiens-Blue Jackets Blockbuster?
The most important distinction is that there is currently a difference between reported interest and an actual three-team trade negotiation.
There is no reason to present Edmonton, Montreal and Columbus as though they are already working together on a deal. Instead, the compelling angle is how those separate situations could intersect.
Edmonton’s interest could establish Dach’s market. Montreal could decide whether that market provides enough value to move him. And if Hughes can turn Dach into pieces Columbus prefers, the Canadiens could strengthen their pursuit of Marchenko without simply emptying their prospect cupboard.
That is how NHL blockbusters sometimes develop. They do not always begin with two general managers discussing the exact players who eventually get traded. One transaction can unlock another.
For Montreal, that makes Kirby Dach one of the most fascinating players to watch as trade conversations develop. He could still have an important role with the Canadiens, or his value around the league could ultimately become the tool Hughes uses to acquire the more established scorer his roster needs.
If the Oilers keep pushing, the decision becomes increasingly difficult, and potentially much more interesting.
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