Injuries are an unavoidable part of hockey, but their ripple effects can be profound, altering individual careers and the trajectory of teams. This season, the Montreal Canadiens have faced fewer challenges stemming from injuries to key players. One of them is Kirby Dach, whose performance and struggles have ignited discussions about both his accountability and Martin St-Louis’ coaching decisions.
The Lingering Shadow of Injuries
Injuries are as much a mental battle as a physical one. For Kirby Dach, missing nearly all of last season with an injury has undoubtedly disrupted his development. Timing, confidence, and stick-handling often take time to return, but other elements of his game—like faceoffs, upper-body strength, and positioning—shouldn’t be held hostage by the injury. These deficiencies raise questions about mindset, effort and accountability.
Dach’s struggles this season are evident, particularly in his inability to elevate and be a positive factor on the lines he’s been on. Despite seemingly dragging down his linemates, he continues to log significant ice time, including on the power play. While certain aspects of his game can be excused due to time missed, his lack of effort is harder to overlook. Players like Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Jake Evans and Emil Heineman, while not always polished, bring an undeniable intensity to every shift. Dach could learn from their example.
The Canadiens’ history underscores how injuries can derail careers. Carey Price, Shea Weber, and Paul Byron were key components of the team’s 2021 Stanley Cup Final run. Their absence left a void the organization is still trying to fill. Similarly, promising prospect David Reinbacher’s injury this season has robbed fans of the chance to see his development firsthand. But hockey is an unforgiving game, and teams must adapt. The same is true for players.
Coaching Decisions: A Source of Frustration
Martin St-Louis’ reluctance to make bold lineup adjustments has been a source of frustration for fans. The second line, often featuring Dach, Patrik Laine, and Alex Newhook (or Juraj Slafkovsky), has been ineffective at even strength. Meanwhile, Gallagher and Anderson, two of the most consistent wingers this season, have not been given a chance to shine alongside Dach.
It’s time for St-Louis to shake things up. A proposed lineup like this could provide much-needed balance:
Caufield – Suzuki – Laine
Gallagher – Dach – Anderson
Newhook – Evans – Slafkovsky
Heineman – Dvorak – Armia
The way Laine has been playing, he deserves a candy, not having to drag an anchor or two with him. In the last game against Winnipeg, the top team in the NHL, he was a menace both on the power play and at even strength, finishing the night with 25% of his team’s shots on goal (7 out of 28).
Also, Gallagher and Anderson have been consistently good this season, no matter who was centering their line. In fact, Gallagher is third on the team in goals’ scoring behind only Caufield and Suzuki, while Anderson is a new man this year compared to the last couple of seasons. Their relentless effort might ignite Dach’s play or at least force him to elevate his intensity. At worst, the line remains stagnant, but at best, it becomes a spark plug for a struggling center.
Jake Evans is having a career season offensively. Giving him Newhook and Slafkovsky can be a very interesting combination while still providing some defensive responsibility, while allowing the other two to find their groove.
Another point of contention is Michael Pezzetta, who has been a healthy scratch for 21 consecutive games. Keeping a player out of action for so long does little good for anyone. Even a game per week would keep his legs fresh and his morale intact.
Perhaps, adding an experienced coach behind the bench to help St-Louis would be beneficial. A former head coach like Gerard Gallant, Bruce Boudreau (who was loved in Vancouver by the way), Bob Hartley or even Alain Vigneault could serve as excellent bouncing board for a coach whom, in spite of having been a great player, has never made decisions behind a NHL bench prior to landing this job.
Moving Forward
The Canadiens need more than just injury recoveries to succeed—they need accountability from players and adaptability from their coaching staff. Dach’s struggles are a mix of injury recovery and effort, but his continued presence in key roles without results is concerning. Similarly, St-Louis’ cautious approach to lineup changes is hindering the team’s potential.
Hockey is a game of adjustments, both for players and coaches. For the Canadiens to move forward, they’ll need to embrace change, demand accountability, and recognize that effort, more than anything, is non-negotiable.
