Each day over the next week leading up to the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 21 in Vancouver, we will be taking a look at the top prospects available for the Chicago Blackhawks with the No. 3 pick.
Today’s entry in the series of prospect profiles is right wing Kirby Each
Kirby Dach
2018–19 Team: Saskatoon Blades, WHL
Date of Birth: January 21, 2001
Place of Birth: St. Albert, AB, Canada
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 198
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: No. 3, North American Skaters
NHL comparable: Rick Nash/Jamie Benn
Three things immediately jump out from Dach’s highlight reels: size, mobility, and a startling array of shots that are a result of outstanding hands. As a skater, he is not a straight line burner, but has nice 360 degree mobility, surprisingly adept edge work and the burst to beat defenders, all of which, in one package, is somewhat unusual in a player his size. Even at 6’4″, 200 pounds, he can maneuver and quickly roof the puck in close, and fire it accurately from any angle—at full speed. Dach will likely top out at 215-220 pounds, and should he develop more of a power game in the NHL, it will only add to his potential lethality as a scorer and set-up man. All of which comes in addition to solid defensive instincts.
Projection
Many feel Dach could develop as a center in the NHL, as he has excellent setup abilities in addition to his scoring talent. Regardless he has all the native tools to be a big time point producer in the NHL, who will also be a three-zone, three situation player. It is hard to imagine an 18 year old with this kind of ability, size, and room to grow being anything less than a significantly productive top line forward on any NHL team within 3 years.
Implications for the Blackhawks
Another player you could somewhat compare Dach to is Marian Hossa, who formerly held the job of 1st line RW on three Blackhawk Stanley Cup teams. Thus, Dach could easily slide in on one of the Hawks’ top lines as a RW—and perhaps fairly soon.
This is a player, unlike last year’s first round selection, Adam Boqvist, who probably does not need a lot of maturation to be able to compete physically in the NHL. Which makes Dach an intriguing option for the Hawks at #3, or perhaps even if they traded down to 5-6. If the Hawks believe they can still compete for a Cup while Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith still have some tread on their tires, then using the #3 pick on the player most near being NHL ready points somewhat toward Dach.
Dach brings that rare combination of sheer size, skating and skill—with good hockey sense and commitment to defensive play—that the Hawks somewhat lack at the forward position.