A calculated contract for the Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens announced a one‑year agreement with forward Kirby Dach, a move that sidesteps arbitration and secures the player for the upcoming season. The deal carries a $3.6 million cap hit, a figure that GM Kent Hughes described as a more manageable burden on the team’s salary structure.
Dach’s previous two‑way qualifying offer had been set at $4 million, and the new contract exceeds the minimum arbitration award by $200,000, underscoring the value the club places on his offensive upside. The agreement also positions Dach to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, giving both sides flexibility as the market evolves.
Cap space and roster considerations
The signing leaves the Canadiens with roughly $9.8 million of cap space still available, a cushion that could be used to address other pending negotiations. Among the unsigned restricted free agents are forward Zachary Bolduc and defenseman Arber Xhekaj, whose contract status remains unresolved as the team evaluates its depth options.
With the roster still taking shape, the club’s management is expected to explore additional moves in the coming weeks, balancing the desire to remain competitive with the financial constraints of the NHL’s salary cap.