Kirby Dach out 4-5 months for Chicago Blackhawks
Kirby Dach, selected by Chicago Blackhawks 3rd overall in 2019, will miss the entire 2020-21 NHL season. The surgery to repair his fractured wrist is going to take 4 to 5 months to heal.
MEDICAL UPDATE: Kirby Dach underwent successful surgery in Chicago to repair a right wrist fracture he sustained at the World Junior Championships. Team physician Dr. Michael Terry expects Kirby to return to hockey-related activities in approximately 4-5 months. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/otd62QfEP3 — Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 28, 2020
Dach suffered the broken wrist while playing for Team Canada in the World Juniors. Obviously missing an entire season in the NHL is bad. Both for Dach and the Blackhawks. But to make matters even worse Dach broke the wrist in an exhibition game. The game didn’t even matter. It was a completely meaningless game to the World Junior tournament, and to the Blackhawks.
Then you see how the injury happened and you feel even worse for Kirby Dach. This looked like a completely harmless play. And it’s going to lead to Dach missing an entire NHL season.
Canada's captain, Kirby Dach, left the ice and went straight to the dressing room after this play. pic.twitter.com/ZEzfG66aad — TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 24, 2020
Now this injury is the exact reason why NHL owners did not allow their players to play in the Olympics in 2018. Obviously owners don’t want to see their players get hurt playing for a different team. And that’s exactly what happened with Kirby Dach. The young and upcoming forward for the Blackhawks gets hurt for Team Canada and now misses the entire 2020-21 NHL season for the Blackhawks. A huge loss for the Blackhawks. A team that could use all the talent they can get.
I understand why NHL owners sometimes don’t allow their players to play in the World Juniors. Especially after this season ending injury. The New York Rangers didn’t let 1st overall pick Alexis Laureniere play. And in hindsight it’s what the Blackhawks should have done with Kirby Dach. Although hindsight is always 20/20. It just sucks for the fans and the Blackhawks to have Dach’s season end before it even started. Especially after a promising showing in the playoff bubble.
Every single GM and owner in the NHL is going to have a meeting with their players under 20 years old after this injury. And they will have one thing to say. “Absolutely none of you are going to the World Juniors. Ever.”
PS
The fact that Kirby Dach is only out for 4-5 months is wild. His wrist was in the shape of an S before the surgery. Just look at it. Medical technology has come so far if it only takes four to five months to recover from this. Don’t look if you’re squeamish.
This is the wrist from Kirby Dach’s injury. One might say he needs to see a Dachtor pic.twitter.com/bnjkOiYyRa — Max Haid (@maxhaid10) December 25, 2020
PSS
Pretty much every team in the NHL sends at least one player to the World Juniors. The Avalanche sent four of their prospects to the World Juniors. It’s a tournament for the best hockey players under 20 years old. And the only way to get better is to compete against the best. So NHL owners and GMs are going to keep letting their players compete in the World Juniors.