Thanks @NHLBlackhawks fans for the support through all the ups and downs this season. Not the season we imagined, but we appreciate you cheering us on. I’m excited to get to work this summer and come back better next season! pic.twitter.com/i04ArWxc4x
— Kirby Dach (@kdach77) May 3, 2022
How much of this gossip is substantiated and how much of it is pure conjecture? While it's fine to wonder about XYZ regarding any player, we all must tread carefully to balance what is fact and what is either untrue or not yet confirmed.
On Dach being questioned on his work ethic, it still is fair to inquire. Is he willing to devote time on the ice during practices or off ice during training to refine who he is as a pro athlete and how he holds himself at and away from the rink?
The same was pondered about former 1st round pick Henri Jokiharju who -- like Dach -- spent little to no time in the AHL before jumping into the big show. Jokiharju was supposedly criticized for being stubborn with feedback on his defensive game.
When Jokiharju was demoted to Rockford in the latter part of his rookie year in 2018-19, he reportedly pouted thinking there was nothing to work on. That attitude reflected in how he performed for the IceHogs which was uninspiring.
During his first few games during that AHL stint, Jokiharju seemed to be going through the motions. He didn't push the pace and was far from being an impact player. To his credit, he turned up the swagger after a few games and showed off his talent.
Would Jokiharju been better off playing that entire 2018-19 season in Rockford or at least start there then earn his way to the Hawks lineup later? That same question has been applied to Dach many times. Should he have stayed in the AHL longer?
Dach started his rookie pro year in Rockford but only for a mere 3 games. Remember, he missed Hawks training camp after suffering a head injury during a late summer prospect tourney. Were those 3 games his "training camp" before joining the Hawks?
It does need to be pointed out that eligibility requirements played a factor in where Dach could play during his rookie year whether that was going back to his junior team in Saskatoon, playing a significant portion of the season in the AHL, or being in the NHL.
In that 3-game spell, Dach was inconsequential as he did not stand out in any way at either end of the ice. Contrast that with the Hawks top prospect Lukas Reichel who has been noticeable and exciting to watch from his first AHL game and onward.
Even though his dominant performance in the minors has not translated yet to the NHL in a few cups of coffee this past season, Reichel has at least demonstrated that he can play at an elite level at rungs of the ladder below the NHL.
Can Dach do the same? Could he spend some time in the AHL next season to gain confidence and work on elements of his game to permanently flex his proverbial and literal muscles that will propel him in a more positive and sharper development curve?
Ian Mitchell is another example of a prospect who struggled in his rookie pro season in 2020-21 then spent most of 2021-22 in Rockford where he thrived and found his game to become the Hogs clear-cut #1 defenseman. He's a gem now in all zones and all situations.
That extra time to become a better overall player should pay dividends this fall as Mitchell aims to snag a starting spot on the Hawks blueline. The same may be said about Alec Regula who has had a similar trajectory as Mitchell toward steady employment in the NHL.
Adam Boqvist is yet another example where more time in the AHL could have been better for his long-term outlook in the NHL. Trial by fire works to a certain extent. Some prospects excel immediately. But oftentimes, marination in the minors is much needed.
Time on the farm can help. But what helps even more is taking that time seriously and dedicating oneself to actual improvement. Is this calling out Dach? Only if what is being talked about him recently is true. Same goes for any other player.
Even if it's untrue -- and regardless of whether he was drafted 3rd overall or in the 3rd round or wherever -- Dach needs to do what it takes to become the best version of himself for his own benefit and hopefully the benefit of the Blackhawks.
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See you on the boards!
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago