- Frank Seravalli reports the Oilers have “intense” interest in trading for Kirby Dach
- The Calgary Flames are also circling as they hunt for a No. 1 center
- Read below for why Montreal isn’t in a rush to make a move
Kirby Dach has the Oilers “drooling,” and it’s not just talk.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported Friday that the Oilers have serious interest in trading for the Canadiens forward, with the Calgary Flames also in the mix.
Seravalli described just how far Edmonton is willing to go to land him:
“The interest in Edmonton borders on drooling. The Oilers are intent on acquiring Dach at some point, whether that’s before the season starts, at the March 1 trade deadline, or next summer as a free agent.”
Dach hasn’t made it stick in Montreal. He scored eight goals and set up 15 points in 37 games last season, and the Canadiens handed him a one-year, $3.6 million show-me deal this summer instead of a longer extension.
General manager Stan Bowman has history here. He made Dach the third overall pick in Chicago back in 2019, and Seravalli says Bowman still believes bad injury luck is the only thing that’s kept him from becoming that player.
Edmonton already has one Dach brother in the fold. Colton Dach signed with the Oilers and has carved out a physical role on the fourth line.
Calgary has its own reasons to get involved. The Flames need a real No. 1 center to play alongside Morgan Frost, and Dach’s size fits the timeline general manager Craig Conroy is building. Seravalli reported the Flames have followed up with Montreal since training camp opened.
The Canadiens aren’t under any pressure to move fast. Teams reportedly offered a second-round pick for Dach back in June, and Montreal held out for more.
Depth option Florian Xhekaj is waiver exempt, which buys the Habs time to see if Dach can find his game again before revisiting trade talks. There’s also been talk that Montreal could use Dach as part of a package for a bigger name, like Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko, a player Edmonton has already shown interest in on its own.
For now, Dach heads into opening night with his future still unresolved, and two teams already lined up if Montreal changes its mind.
