Chicago Blackhawks: Kirby Dach hurt in World Junior exhibition
The Chicago Blackhawks may have lost Kirby Dach for some time due to injury.
Kirby Dach was loaned to the Team Canada World Junior Classic team to play this year because of the fact that the NHL season hasn’t returned yet. They also knew that if the January 13th start date became a thing, he would be back in time to join the Chicago Blackhawks. The problem for him is that he might miss that now if he is seriously injured.
He hurt what looked like his wrist in the middle of the ice collision in a pre-tournament game against Russia. It didn’t look very good at first and the fact that x-rays were needed makes it even scarier. Cuts need to be submitted by Thursday so Team Canada has a big decision looming. He is currently their captain and one of the top players on the team.
To be honest with you, Team Canada is so stacked with or without Kirby Dach. Out of the 22 skaters on the squad, 20 of them have already been first-round picks in the NHL Draft. They are the heavy favorites and still will be even if they lose their captain. If anything, this would be a bigger loss for the Chicago Blackhawks than it would Team Canada.
There is still hope that he is okay but the initial signs aren’t good. He is expected to be Chicago’s second-line center this year and could see a significant increase in ice time. That would also mean time at even strength with Patrick Kane and some good power-play minutes. He was okay in his rookie year but the way he played in the return to play bubble was very encouraging.
It was Dach’s idea to play in the World Junior Classic. He approached his agent about it who talked to Stan Bowman and then they all came to the decision to have him go. If he doesn’t get hurt, it is a great decision to send him because it is a good tournament for development. He might dominate that more than the NHL but there is still value to playing with other skilled players.
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If something is broken he will for sure miss the start of the upcoming season but anything can happen at this point. The Hawks already announced that they will be without Alexander Nylander for a while so losing Dach would hurt their forward core even more. Hopefully, it is something minor that won’t keep him out too long.