Dach agrees to four-year, $13.45 million contract with Canadiens

The 21-year-old forward was a restricted free agent. He set NHL career highs in goals (nine), assists (17) and points (26) in 70 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season. Dach was traded to the Canadiens by the Blackhawks on July 7 for the No. 13 and No. 66 picks in the 2022 NHL Draft.

“I think it will be good for me to kind of have a fresh start, be the player I know I can be,” Dach said after the trade. “I feel like I’m pretty offensive and smart with the puck and can make plays, but also a reliable, two-way centerman that’s big and strong down the middle of the ice that skates well and can make plays.”

Selected by Chicago with the No. 3 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Dach has 59 points (19 goals, 40 assists) in 152 regular-season games. He has six points (one goal, five assists) in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Montreal missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season after a run to the Cup Final in 2021. The Canadiens (22-49-11) finished eighth in the Atlantic Division, ranking at or near the bottom of the NHL in each major category — goals (218, 27th), goals against (317, 32nd), power play (13.7 percent, 31st) and penalty kill (75.6 percent, 27th).

Hockey Hall of Fame forward Martin St. Louis was hired to replace Dominique Ducharme despite a lack of any professional coaching experience. The Canadiens went 14-19-4 under St. Louis, who signed a three-year contract to remain coach June 1.

“You kind of hear rumors here and there and it’s a busy time during the draft,” Dach said. “I got the phone call five minutes before it was announced. I was actually on my way into the rink to go skate. It was a bit shocking, but I’m excited to be in Montreal. It’s a great city and I’ve loved to play there. I can’t wait to have the fans on my side cheering us on. Obviously, it’s a good team. We’re young and we’re kind of up and coming. Can’t wait about the future.”