The Blackhawks Have to be Careful with Kirby Dach Moving Forward

Chicago Blackhawks’ Kirby Dach is feeling pain in the same wrist that was surgically repaired just four months ago.

Kirby Dach is feeling pain in his right wrist again, and this something that the Blackhawks need to take seriously. Despite that, he has looked pretty good with two assists in five games, then skated 21:18 in a 3-2 loss to the Predators. His conditioning and speed look good, too as he is able to keep up with the playoff-level pace the Central Division possesses.

The Blackhawks drafted Kirby Dach with the plan of him becoming a franchise cornerstone for the next fifteen or so years, and rightfully so as he was drafted 3rd overall. A player drafted in the first round is expected to make an impact in the NHL at some point of their development, but a player drafted from a lottery pick? The hope of them blossoming into an NHL superstar is extremely high.

Dach has shown why he was drafted in that spot many times, with his play jumping to a whole new level in the playoffs of 2020. His speed and handles were noticeable, and his poise with the puck is insane for his age.

With his value being so high, and the fact that his wrist is still ailing him, the Blackhawks have to be careful with how they utilize him moving forward. The last thing we want to see is an article saying “Kirby Dach Re-Injured Surgically Repaired Wrist, Out Indefinitely”. Like many bones, if Dach reinjures his wrist, he could cause even more damage than the first time he broke it.

I would personally like for him to sit for the next couple of games to rest his wrist. Yes, the Blackhawks are chasing a playoff spot, behind the Predators by just a couple of points, but that is the short-term success of the team. The Blackhawks core is looking bright, with Kirby Dach leading them as the franchise cornerstone. He has many years of good hockey in him, so it wouldn’t hurt the Blackhawks to rest him some more as a precautionary measure.

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With Patrick Kane not getting any younger and Jonathan Toews’ future unclear, the Blackhawks have to be careful with their young, up-and-coming superstars. Kirby Dach is an effective player, but the last thing the Blackhawks need is for him to overwork his wrist and be back on the shelf with a longer recovery time.