He's mentioned that a couple times in the past as well. Hopefully, with having to take time off from woking on his hands/shot/stickhandling, he puts a ton of effort into that part of his game (not to mention getting stronger overall). He really could turn into an excellent player. I'll be interested to see what he looks like going into next season.
- Chunk

Sounds like he needs to train with Keith, I've heard his work outs are extreme

No NHL team has hired Gallant and there have been several openings.

No Colliton is not a great coach. It also does not matter right now. He is doing exactly what the FO wants, and is cheap. Understand the current situation.
- Chunk

Agree this year and next year are transition and developmental years. So hopefully after next season the hawks will be in better situation as a complete team. Do the hawks have holes yes: lack of speed, team and individual phyiscally, goaltending a number one d man and a defensive scheme that is suitable for the players they have on the roster. Things are trending in the right direction just going to take time.

Hey Scott, what makes you like him more as a winger? I think he's only played a few games there (last year?).
- Chunk

Um his size coming down wing his board play and that he could be that power forward that hawks need. Just my opinion i think Dach would excel more at being a winger than a center. I m not saying he won't excel at center i think he will. Just seeing him coming the lw with that right handed shot with that size would be awesome to see imo.

Um his size coming down wing his board play and that he could be that power forward that hawks need. Just my opinion i think Dach would excel more at being a winger than a center. I m not saying he won't excel at center i think he will. Just seeing him coming the lw with that right handed shot with that size would be awesome to see imo.
- Scott1977

I agree. Although a good passer, i don't think Dach sees the ice like a centerman. i think he would be much better as a more north south player than east west.

One thing I've noticed with the 'Hawks man-to-man defense: when the d-man stays on a player, a winger or the center must go to the crease and contest that area.
That does not happen enough.

I agree. Although a good passer, i don't think Dach sees the ice like a centerman. i think he would be much better as a more north south player than east west.
- LAHawk

From Wiz's 2019 mock draft on Kirby Dach.

Got an early taste in the "Dub" when injuries befell the forwards on Saskatoon. Showed off his competitive nature and was able to set up and score goals as a 16 year old. Displays smarts, size, good feet and a 200 foot commitment. Not a speedster, but has a great stick, good feet, and soft hands as a high-end playmaker. Has above average hockey IQ, and can control the pace and the play. Another wing-centre who is very strong on his skates, and a terrific saucer passer. Can move with above average speed while he maintains possession, stutter step and gain the zone. Uses his soft hands to find open line mates when he has the puck, and quickly ghost into quiet, soft areas to receive returns and scoring looks. When watching a guy this big, you think he is going to get held up. But, he seems to keep effortlessly driving the defenders away from the puck with his long reach and staying in motion while he supports the play. He avoids attackers with side-stepping and a quick stick. He follows the action, but the action tends to follow him too. Strong in so many phases of the game already, he is always close to attackers in his end nudging close deterring their advance, and stripping pucks away from them. The stats showed his high frequency in getting back and closing on attackers and snuffing out their passing options and ranked higher than many of Saskatoon defender when it came to picking up defensive zone coverage. He Is a regular on the PK and PP. I think there is upside as a pro scorer. But many of his goals will continue to come with plays he started where he positioned himself between the circles, stick on the ice, and wasn’t stopped. He is able to read coverages, make sharp cuts, by driving into the turns. His edge work keeps him away from closing traffic, and frequently leaving him uncovered in the dirty areas. Plenty of room to imagine him as blossoming as a scorer as well as set-up guy. Project as a franchise NHL centre, but can be a big wing presence as well. Big guy with big strong wrists, who gets in close and difficult to move out from the front or take the puck away from. It might take time, but no NHL team is going to pass on big man with these tools at both ends.

Um his size coming down wing his board play and that he could be that power forward that hawks need. Just my opinion i think Dach would excel more at being a winger than a center. I m not saying he won't excel at center i think he will. Just seeing him coming the lw with that right handed shot with that size would be awesome to see imo.
- Scott1977

The most important positions on a team are down the middle. Goalie, defense and center. Will Dach prove to be a better center or winger? I have no idea? But you don’t take a player who’s played his whole life at center and is projected to be a centerman and move him to wing for the purpose of having a big winger. Would you also have chosen Laine over Matthews so you get a big winger instead of the having a player at the most important forward position?

I agree. Although a good passer, i don't think Dach sees the ice like a centerman. i think he would be much better as a more north south player than east west.
- LAHawk

Agree with your assessment imo plays the center position like winger but maybe with possibly towes coming back could help dach to become a better center.

The most important positions on a team are down the middle. Goalie, defense and center. Will Dach prove to be a better center or winger? I have no idea? But you don’t take a player who’s played his whole life at center and is projected to be a centerman and move him to wing for the purpose of having a big winger. Would you also have chosen Laine over Matthews so you get a big winger instead of the having a player at the most important forward position?
- paulr

Again, I think some of this is people waffling due to him not coming back and looking like the Bubble Boy he was in EDM. Patience is a virtue.

Like you I have no idea, but I also think (like you) they will likely give him every chance to succeed at center.

Dach being held out the rest of the year.

Connolly in for Strome (saw that coming)
Regula in for Mitchell.

Delia starting again.

Colliton on Alec Regula: "Big body. Calm player. He's got a lot of poise with the puck. His conditioning has improved this year... Looking forward to seeing him play at an NHL pace."

Didn't Sharp play some center as a Hawk while winning the the 1st Cup. I don't remember if he started his career as a center then moved to wing, or jumped back and forth as the situation called.

The most important positions on a team are down the middle. Goalie, defense and center. Will Dach prove to be a better center or winger? I have no idea? But you don’t take a player who’s played his whole life at center and is projected to be a centerman and move him to wing for the purpose of having a big winger. Would you also have chosen Laine over Matthews so you get a big winger instead of the having a player at the most important forward position?
- paulr

Its just observation and opinion of mine hawks need dach to succeed at center moving forward to take that next step of competing for a cup.

Maybe Colton will be the Power Forward wing the team needs, or the #1 center.

The most important positions on a team are down the middle. Goalie, defense and center. Will Dach prove to be a better center or winger? I have no idea? But you don’t take a player who’s played his whole life at center and is projected to be a centerman and move him to wing for the purpose of having a big winger. Would you also have chosen Laine over Matthews so you get a big winger instead of the having a player at the most important forward position?
- paulr

He might still need to grow into the C position anyway. He looks much better NS than EW in the limited games we saw this season but we saw a better 200 ft/full ice game against the Oil/VGK and the previous season.

To get an idea of growing, Big Joe Thornton put up 7 (55 games), 41 (81 games) and 60 (81 games) in his first three seasons.

Dach 23 (64 games) and 10 (18 games)... Similar, if not better numbers

Dach being held out the rest of the year.

Connolly in for Strome (saw that coming)
Regula in for Mitchell.

Delia starting again.

Colliton on Alec Regula: "Big body. Calm player. He's got a lot of poise with the puck. His conditioning has improved this year... Looking forward to seeing him play at an NHL pace."
- Chunk

Entwistle staying in as well.

Entwistle staying in as well.
- Chunk

I thought he looked good in his one game showing. Productive in the bottom 6.

The most important positions on a team are down the middle. Goalie, defense and center. Will Dach prove to be a better center or winger? I have no idea? But you don’t take a player who’s played his whole life at center and is projected to be a centerman and move him to wing for the purpose of having a big winger. Would you also have chosen Laine over Matthews so you get a big winger instead of the having a player at the most important forward position?
- paulr

Wheeler, Terravanen, Huberdeau, Giroux come to mind at the top of my head.

Dach being held out the rest of the year.

Connolly in for Strome (saw that coming)
Regula in for Mitchell.

Delia starting again.

Colliton on Alec Regula: "Big body. Calm player. He's got a lot of poise with the puck. His conditioning has improved this year... Looking forward to seeing him play at an NHL pace."
- Chunk

Why pray tell would the Hawks be scratching Strome?

No NHL team has hired Gallant and there have been several openings.

No Colliton is not a great coach. It also does not matter right now. He is doing exactly what the FO wants, and is cheap. Understand the current situation.
- Chunk

Gallant has just accepted the Team Canada head coaching job &
Gallant has turned down 2 positions since his Vegas run to the Cup Finals -
I can't say which teams but trust me

I think Jeremy is Stan's guy & he will stick with his decision to hire him after firing Q.

I need to live with it or tune into fewer games🤦‍♂️

Wheeler, Terravanen, Huberdeau, Giroux come to mind at the top of my head.
- LAHawk

Not sure I follow?

Gallant has just accepted the Team Canada head coaching job &
Gallant has turned down 2 positions since his Vegas run to the Cup Finals -
I can't say which teams but trust me

I think Jeremy is Stan's guy & he will stick with his decision to hire him after firing Q.

I need to live with it or tune into fewer games🤦‍♂️
- Colbyboy

And Stan Blowman was named GM of Team USA when plenty of people want him dumped off a boat.

Until proven otherwise, I'm sticking to: Jeremy is cheap and un-combative, and doing exactly what they want.

That last sentence could not be truer.

Why pray tell would the Hawks be scratching Strome?
- RickJ

Because they watched his last two games.

Because they watched his last two games.
- Chunk

The other 37 games he's played haven't been much better.

I thought it might have been because he was completely stressed out knowing his brother had to fight one of those nasty violent Washington Capitals last night.

The other 37 games he's played haven't been much better.

I thought it might have been because he was completely stressed out knowing his brother had to fight one of those nasty violent Washington Capitals last night.
- RickJ

I was surprised to see a Strome show anger.

Gallant has just accepted the Team Canada head coaching job &
Gallant has turned down 2 positions since his Vegas run to the Cup Finals -
I can't say which teams but trust me

I think Jeremy is Stan's guy & he will stick with his decision to hire him after firing Q.

I need to live with it or tune into fewer games🤦‍♂️
- Colbyboy

Why hasn't his former teammate Yzerman hired him yet?