Canadiens Re-Sign Dach to One-Year Deal to Avoid Arbitration

The Montreal Canadiens came to terms with restricted-free-agent Kirby Dach, re-signing the 25-year-old to a one-year deal on Thursday. Per reporter Elliotte Friedman, the deal is worth $3.6 million and one-way in nature, which is key.

$3.6M, one-way https://t.co/6Qij84URZU

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 16, 2026

It had been reported that the Canadiens had initially extended Dach a two-way $4 million qualifying offer, which would have enabled them to pay him a lower amount had they decided to send him down to the American Hockey League. The forward filed for arbitration in turn, with a hearing date set for July 30. This way, Dach ensures he gets paid the same amount, regardless of where he plays, although it’s worth noting Dach hadn’t played in the AHL since playing three games there as a rookie in 2019-20 with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Dach, who made the NHL as an 18-year-old former third-overall pick (2019), will have accrued enough years of service to bring him to unrestricted free agency come July 1 of next year. He gets a modest raise from the $3.3625 million cap hit he had earned over the last four years after initially signing with the Canadiens following his acquisition at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

For their part, the Canadiens, who first traded away defenseman Alexander Romanov to acquire the first-round pick they sent to the Blackhawks (used to select Frank Nazar at the event along with a third-rounder) for Dach, avoid arbitration. They meanwhile get a bottom-six fixture under contract for 2026-27, without overpaying. Despite scoring an impressive 38 points in 58 games in his first season with the team in 2022-23, Dach has just 39 total points in the three seasons since, limited to 98 games due to injury in that span. Overall, Dach, who had been acquired by the Habs to play centre but has since been relegated to a depth role on the wing, has played 306 games in his seven NHL seasons.