Chicago Blackhawks: Dach struggles to score, but still is growing as a player

When Kirby Dach was selected 3rd overall back in June, no one expected him to make the NHL but after 42 games into his career he has struggled to find his scoring touch but his increased role with the Chicago Blackhawks is an encouraging development.

On December 21st, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Colorado Avalanche on the back of four third period goals, that game was also the last time that Blackhawks rookie Kirby Dach recorded a point. 11 games have passed since then and Dach has failed to put up any semblance of offensive production, however, one thing that has increased is Dach’s overall role on the team.

From power-play time to playing on a line with Alex DeBrincat, Dach is seeing his role on the team increase much of that having to do with key injuries across the lineup but also the overall play of Dach in those increased roles. Dach is willing to go into the dirty areas to make plays happen but also has that offensive flare to create his plays out of nothing as you can see below.

It is clear that the lack of production is frustrating Dach, with only one point in the last 27 games, and so many near misses to count including a wide-open opportunity that was missed in the Montreal Canadians game on Wednesday.

With this kind of slump plaguing Dach over the last stretch of games, the NHL All-Star break could not come at a better time for him to take a step away from the rink and hopefully get some much-needed rest during his first NHL season.

The struggles of Dach are also common ones with the two players drafted ahead of him. Kaapo Kakko and Jack Hughes are going through struggles of their own. Hughes currently sports 17 points this season and Kakko has 16 points on the season. That gives Blackhawks’ fans some hope with these two seen as the most NHL ready of the prospects in the 2019 draft, Dach wasn’t.

See his equals face similar stumbles early in their career gives home to Dach that this is just part of his growth as an NHL player and with him getting more time on ice in different situations only helps build him as an overall hockey player. For now, Dach needs to focus on his continued development as a hockey player and in time he will find the offense coming at a more regular pace.