Kirby Dach’s Arbitration Hearing Set for July 30 Amid Canadiens Negotiations

Kirby Dach, the only Montreal Canadiens player to file for arbitration, is set to have his hearing on July 30, as confirmed by Puckpedia. This date falls just before the final day of arbitration hearings, providing the Canadiens and Dach a crucial 17 days to negotiate an agreement before the hearing takes place.

The decision for arbitration came after the Canadiens extended a two-way qualifying offer to Dach, which included a $4 million NHL salary alongside an AHL salary should he not make the roster. Dach’s eligibility for this offer stemmed from his games played over the past three seasons. It’s likely that the Canadiens opted for this approach to keep Dach’s salary below the $4 million he could have earned with a one-way offer.

While the qualifying offer will expire on July 15 unless formally extended, both parties can continue negotiations until the arbitration hearing begins. There is a possibility that an agreement could be reached before the hearing, although the lowest award an arbitrator could grant is $3.4 million. Thus, any deal struck prior to the hearing would likely fall between that figure and the $4 million mark.

Dach is represented by Gerry Johannson, who also manages Brendan Gallagher and Dach’s younger brother, Colton. In a related development, Colton Dach recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, valued at an average annual value of $1.2 million, after being traded from the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this year.

By early August, the Canadiens and Dach are expected to have clarity on his earnings, which could potentially facilitate a trade if General Manager Kent Hughes decides to go that route. Meanwhile, notable restricted free agents Trevor Zegras and Jason Robertson are scheduled for their arbitration hearings on July 22 and 25, respectively.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.