Why the Edmonton Oilers’ Interest in Kirby Dach Makes Little Sense

The Edmonton Oilers started the season with a 2-0-1 record through their first three games, but early play has revealed several areas of concern. While their offense has been prolific, scoring 17 goals, the team has conceded 14, indicating a pressing need for defensive reinforcement or goaltending upgrades.

Despite these obvious defensive vulnerabilities, team management appears to be pursuing a different strategy. Instead of bolstering the blue line or the crease, the Oilers have reportedly set their sights on Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach. In late September, NHL insider Frank Seravalli described Edmonton as “drooling” with interest in the 25-year-old forward.

This trade interest shows no signs of cooling down, with multiple insiders suggesting a potential deal involving Dach. It is worth noting that Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman originally selected Dach with the third-overall pick during his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019.

The Oilers recently acquired forward Filip Hallander from the Pittsburgh Penguins, trading depth defenseman Spencer Stastney in exchange. However, with only 18 NHL games of experience under his belt, the 26-year-old Hallander is unlikely to satisfy Edmonton’s front-office ambitions, leaving their strong interest in Dach undiminished.

Oilers Lack the Patience for Reclamation Projects

Drafted in 2019, Dach was once regarded as a premier prospect. He recorded 25 goals and 73 points in 62 WHL games with the Saskatoon Blades, earning a reputation as nearly NHL-ready. He indeed made the leap immediately, debuting for the Blackhawks at just 18 years old.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, Dach possesses the physical tools and skill set expected of a power forward. Unfortunately, he has yet to live up to the immense expectations placed upon him early in his career.

In seven NHL seasons, Dach has never surpassed the 40-point threshold. While injuries have heavily contributed to this statistic—playing more than 60 games in a single season only once in his professional career—this durability concern should give the Oilers pause before committing assets to acquire him.

When healthy enough to feature in the lineup, Dach’s production has been underwhelming. He managed only eight goals and 15 points across 37 regular-season games in 2025-26, followed by four goals and one assist in 19 playoff contests.

Acquiring Dach would classify him as a reclamation project. While such projects make sense for teams with ample developmental patience, they are a luxury the Oilers cannot afford under the intense pressure to win a Stanley Cup. Edmonton already has a developmental project in forward Isaac Howard and cannot afford to take another gamble on a struggling player.

Defensive and Goaltending Needs Remain Primary Focus

As previously noted, if Edmonton chooses to add offensive depth, targeting a proven scoring winger would be a far more productive approach than acquiring Dach. However, bolstering the forward ranks should not be their primary focus at this stage.

Conceding 14 goals in their opening games against the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken highlights the significant defensive work required on Edmonton’s side of the ice. Much of this defensive struggle stems from a blue line that has struggled to stabilize play. A defensive upgrade should be the team’s primary trade target.

Goaltending also remains an area of concern, though a roster adjustment in the crease seems unlikely at this juncture. Devon Levi delivered a solid performance in his recent start against the Kraken, while Frederik Andersen is anticipated to return from injury in December. Edmonton will likely prefer to evaluate their goaltending duo when both are healthy before exploring external options.

For the time being, the Oilers would be wise to resist the temptation of acquiring another reclamation project up front. Although Kirby Dach may eventually find his stride and fulfill the early expectations of his draft profile, Edmonton lacks the patience to wait for that development. With a Stanley Cup championship still firmly within their sights, their limited trade assets would be more strategically invested in addressing the actual areas holding the team back.

Source link