‘Letting him walk would have been a waste’
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The signing announced by Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens up front continues to generate plenty of reaction.
The Canadiens officially signed the injury-plagued forward to a one-year contract. It puts an end to weeks of speculation surrounding his future.
Mike Veenie, however, doesn’t understand the criticism. According to the analyst, the Canadiens simply did what they had to do.
Not qualifying him would have been a waste. I don’t know what anybody could be mad about here.”
In his view, not qualifying Kirby Dach would have been a complete waste.
He sees two very specific paths moving forward.
Either he starts the season in the bottom six, or he’s traded, Veenie summarized.
It’s hard to disagree with him on that point.
Not Qualifying Kirby Dach Would Have Been a Waste, According to Veenie
The logic is easy to defend.
By keeping him, the Canadiens retain the full value of a young forward who could eventually bring back an asset, especially if he gets off to a strong start this season.
The alternative would have been much worse.
Letting him walk without any compensation would have meant losing an asset for nothing in return.
Now the hope is simply that he bounces back.
After recording 15 points in 37 games last season, Dach has to prove he’s capable of much more.
The circumstances are also pushing him to perform.
A contract year, with unrestricted free agency getting closer, will certainly put added pressure on him to deliver a strong season.
And if it doesn’t work out, a trade will still be an option. It’s now up to Dach to turn this one-year contract into a springboard rather than a dead end.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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6 HOURS AGO|193 ANSWERS Confirmed move for Hughes and the Canadiens up front: ‘Letting him walk would have been a waste’ Did the Canadiens Make the Right Call by Qualifying Kirby Dach Instead of Letting Him Walk? |
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