The Montreal Canadiens will play against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their season opener and they might have the services of their center Kirby Dach. In February, the center underwent a knee surgery, which ruled him out for the 2024-25 season prematurely. Dach has had recurring knee injuries, including a torn ACL & MCL in late 2023-24.
On Monday, several Habs reporters, including Amy Johnson, reported that Canadiens executive VP Jeff Gorton is optimistic that Dach will be ready for the opening night. The center played 57 games last year, scoring 10 goals and providing 12 assists.
From #Habs golf tournament press conference:
Jeff Gorton says the plan is to try to have Kirby Dach ready for opening night.@RocketSports @HockeyHStove@Hockeypodnet #GoHabsGo #NHL
— Amy Johnson (@FlyersRule) September 15, 2025
Having Dach in the lineup from the beginning would be a major boost for Montreal. It would help stabilize the centre position and reduce pressure elsewhere. Dach is expected to take on the second-line centre role, since he can score and also hold his own defensively.
It will be an important season for Dach since he is entering the final year of his contract before becoming a restricted agent.
Kirby Dach has started skating
On August 25, Kirby Dach was spotted skating in Brossard, suggesting the rehab is going well. GM Kent Hughes previously said that the hope is to have Dach ready either at the start of the season or sometime early in the fall. However, he also stressed they won’t rush him.
In order to get Kirby Dach back on the NHL ice, several things need to happen in his rehab. Jeff Gorton’s timelines come with an assumption that he may not suffer any setback in his rehab or conditioning.
Training camp performance will be critical for Dach. The center needs to be not only ready for practice but has to be prepared for a game. Also, it’s important that Dach is not being rushed into the process. If he returns half-healthy, the Habs may lose a key player for the better part of the season.
