- Canadiens re-sign Kirby Dach to a one-year, $3.6 million contract
- The one-way deal wipes out his July 30 arbitration hearing
- Read below for what Dach was really fighting for in arbitration
The Canadiens got Kirby Dach signed before things got messy. Montreal locked up the 25-year-old center on a one-year, $3.6 million contract Thursday, wiping out an arbitration hearing that was set for July 30.
The team confirmed the deal:
Here is the part people missed. Dach didn’t file for arbitration to squeeze out a bigger number. His qualifying offer was worth $4 million, but it came as a two-way deal. He filed to force a one-way contract, and that is exactly what he landed.
Frank Seravalli spelled out the arbitration rules earlier this month, noting a new deal can be finished any time before a hearing starts:
The money actually slipped a touch. Dach was playing out a four-year, $13.45 million contract that carried a $3.36 million cap hit. This one pays $3.6 million across a single season.
Last year was one to forget. Dach managed eight goals and seven assists in 37 games. A fractured foot against Boston in November cost him 31 games, then an upper-body injury in March knocked out another 11.
Montreal has had a loud offseason, with teams calling on Arber Xhekaj and plenty of roster churn. Getting Dach done clears a restricted free agent off the board and keeps him in the middle six for another year.
A healthy Dach at $3.6 million is a steal. Montreal is betting the center finally strings a full season together.
