After a play at the World Juniors left Chicago Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach with an injury, he had successful surgery on his right wrist, setting him back 4-5 months. This essentially means he will miss the 2020-21 regular season.
MEDICAL UPDATE: Kirby Dach underwent successful surgery in Chicago to repair a right wrist fracture he sustained at the World Junior Championships.
Team physician Dr. Michael Terry expects Kirby to return to hockey-related activities in approximately 4-5 months. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/otd62QfEP3
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 28, 2020
Chicago Blackhawks’ Kirby Dach Injury Leaves Him Out 4-5 Months After Surgery
Losing Kirby Dach is a huge blow to the Blackhawks. His second-line centre presence was a much-needed boost to the struggling Chicago offence. Drafted third overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft, Dach has been an incredible addition to the Hawks’ lineup. In 64 games played, he had eight goals and 15 assists, combining for 23 points. He averaged just over 14 minutes of ice time per game and had 24 minutes in penalties. His Corsi was 48.7%, with a relative Corsi of -0.1.
What This Means for the Future
While the numbers may not show it, Dach is a critical part of the Blackhawks’ offence. A young centerman is exactly who they need to replace the ageing Jonathan Toews in the coming seasons. Commanding his own line at 19 years old is an incredible feat, showing his maturity. Even though the scoresheet is not the most promising, his play is much better than it looks on paper. His play was solid for the most part, although he did show signs of inexperience. In a shortened season, every game matters more and having Dach miss a non-significant chunk of the season is a devastating blow. It is very likely the Hawks signed Carl Soderberg to make up for their missing centerman. While replacing Dach is difficult, Soderberg will be a one-year replacement for them to make up for the hole Dach leaves. Especially since the Hawks are re-tooling, do not expect Dach to be rushed back into the lineup. The Blackhawks medical team will make sure he is fully healed before sending him back out onto the ice.
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