Canadiens send two draft picks to Blackhawks for Kirby Dach

The Chicago Blackhawks’ blow-up continues.

The Montreal Canadiens have traded the No. 13 and No. 66 overall picks in the 2022 NHL Draft to Chicago in exchange for Kirby Dach.

Montreal received the No. 13 overall pick from the New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman Alexander Romanov and the No. 98 overall pick.

This deal comes just a few hours after the Hawks traded Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators for two draft picks. Chicago now owns the Nos. 7, 13, 39, and 66 overall picks in the draft. Chicago’s first-round pick, No. 6 overall, is owned by the Columbus Blue Jackets from last summer’s Seth Jones trade.

Dach was originally drafted by the Blackhawks with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft. He made his NHL debut in 2019-20 and scored 23 points over 64 games. All told, Dach has 59 points in 152 games across three seasons at the NHL level.

The Habs selected winger Juraj Slafkovský with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, somewhat controversially passing on center Shane Wright with the top pick. By acquiring Dach, the Habs ultimately fill the need down the middle while still drafting the player they wanted with the top pick.

Dach is currently a restricted free agent having reached the end of his entry-level contract.