Calgary Flames Would a Be Great Fit for Kirby Dach

It’s been no secret that the Calgary Flames would like to add a young, talented centre to the organization. General manager (GM) Craig Conroy hasn’t been shy about sharing that desire, and it’s quite obvious why. They are set to enter the 2026-27 season with a centre group that consists of Morgan Frost, Mikael Backlund, Ryan Strome, and Martin Pospisil. Many believe it’s the worst centre group heading into the 2026-27 season.

In the Flames’ defence, they’ve attempted to address this issue through drafting. We saw that at the 2025 draft, where they selected two centres in the first round in Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter. While they do appear to have bright futures in store, however, they aren’t ready to make impacts at the NHL level just yet.

That’s what makes the Flames’ desire for a young centreman so obvious. There is no guarantee that Reschny or Potter become gamebreakers at the NHL level, and that’s exactly what this team needs in order to slowly transition from their rebuild into contending status. As luck would have it, one may be available for them.

Flames Have Interest in Kirby Dach

It’s sounding like Kirby Dach’s time with the Montreal Canadiens could soon be coming to an end. He’s struggled to establish himself with the Habs the past two seasons and has fallen down their depth chart as a result.

Despite his stock falling, however, there is still plenty of reason to be enticed by the 2019 third-overall pick. He’s extremely skilled, brings tons of size at 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, and feels like a player who hasn’t come anywhere close to reaching his ceiling just yet. An organization that could allow him to play big minutes and really start to feel comfortable seems to be just what he needs in order to take that next step.

Based on reports, it feels as though Flames management is viewing this the same way. While they are far from the only team showing interest, it is being reported that Calgary would like to add Dach. NHL insider Frank Seravalli was the latest to give mention to the speculation that has been surfacing.

“Sources say Edmonton and Calgary have kept close tabs on Kirby Dach’s status as Montreal holds firm on its asking price. There have been rumblings that the Flames followed up since training camps opened.”

Seravalli also went on to mention that multiple teams were believed to have offered the Canadiens a second-round pick to acquire Dach. Ultimately, that wasn’t enough for them to bite, though the Flames have the luxury of being able to offer more.

Thanks to some tidy work from Conroy, the Flames have six second-round picks over the next three drafts. They also have five picks in the first three rounds of the 2027 draft. With the amount of intriguing prospects they already boast, some of those picks are going to be dealt. Moving a few out, perhaps a 2027 second and third, or even attaching a prospect with that 2027 second-round pick, could be enough for the Canadiens to pull the trigger.

From the Flames’ perspective, it’s a gamble worth taking. Injuries have prevented Dach from getting to his full potential just yet, but he’s still only 25 years old. He’s already logged 306 career games, which is likely more than any potential second-round pick would ever reach. Even if the deal weren’t to pan out for the Flames, it’s very unlikely it’s a trade that would be looked back on with regret.

Dach Would Be Worth the Gamble

Ultimately, acquiring Dach would give the Flames another young player with the potential to grow alongside the rest of their core. There are certainly risks involved, but if Conroy believes Dach can rediscover the form that made him a third-overall pick, this could be the type of gamble that pays off in a big way.