Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours from the crew at Last Word on Hockey. The puck has been dropped, and the 2026-27 regular season is now underway. However, that doesn't mean that the rumours will stop. If anything, they will continue to heat up as teams get a look at their rosters and figure out where they stand against the opposition and where improvements can be made. One of those teams is the Edmonton Oilers. In this edition of NHL Rumours, we focus on the team's interest in current Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach .
All NHL rumours come from their original source and are subject to change.
Rumour: According to Frank Seravalli, the Oilers have a serious interest in Canadiens forward Kirby Dach.
Analysis: As Seravalli explains it, the Oilers' interest in Dach borders on drooling. They have a desperate need for a right-shot centreman, and Dach certainly provides that. Currently, the only right-shot centreman on the Oilers roster is rookie Owen Michaels , who just competed in his first NHL game on Tuesday night. Adding Dach would give them a much more proven option and someone who could certainly benefit from a change of scenery.
Dach has found himself falling out of favour in Montreal. When the Canadiens acquired him, the thought was that he would be the perfect number two centre behind Nick Suzuki . However, due to multiple injuries and inconsistent play, Dach has been passed on the depth chart by Alex Newhook , who is currently operating as the 2C. With Phillip Danault and Jake Evans occupying the centre ice position on the other two lines, Dach is now slotting in on the right side next to Danault. While this isn't a major issue, as it shows Dach's versatility and how much depth the Canadiens have to be able to deploy their lineup this way, it begs the question of where the Canadiens see Dach in their lineup moving forward. Hence the interest from the Oilers.
May 27, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in game four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
There could be a potential homecoming for Dach if he is dealt to the Oilers. Dach is originally from Fort Saskatchewan, which is about 30 minutes outside of Edmonton. Going home to play for what is essentially your hometown team would certainly be something of interest for the 25-year-old centreman. Not to mention, his younger brother Colton is already on the roster. The chance to go home and play with his brother is certainly something that would be a dream come true for Dach.
The Canadiens are going to be faced with a big decision regarding Dach. They signed him to a one-year contract this offseason. At season's end, he will be an unrestricted free agent. Depending on how the season goes for Dach, he could earn himself another deal, but is that something he is going to want? Potentially, especially after the run the Canadiens went on last year. However, if there's an opportunity to go home for more money and play next to his brother, he might just be enticed to leave, and the Canadiens would lose him for nothing. Will the Canadiens use him as their own rental player as they try to make another run at Lord Stanley's Cup this season, or would they be better off trading him before the deadline, getting something in return for the big, versatile forward? This is a storyline to certainly follow as the season goes on.
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Main Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
