Three years ago, the Montreal Canadiens made a bold move that sent shockwaves through the NHL community.

When general manager Kent Hughes orchestrated a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks to acquire promising young center Kirby Dach, fans and analysts alike hailed it as a masterstroke.

The consensus was clear: Montreal had secured a future star at a bargain price, surrendering only the 13th and 66th overall picks in the 2022 NHL Draft. The excitement was palpable, and expectations soared.

But as the dust settles and the years pass, a new narrative is beginning to emerge—one that casts a shadow over what was once seen as a clear victory for the Canadiens.

Behind the scenes, questions are swirling about whether this trade, once celebrated, might now be a source of regret for Hughes and the Montreal front office. Injuries have plagued Dach’s progress, leaving his future uncertain, while the player selected with Montreal’s former pick, Frank Nazar, is quickly rising through the Blackhawks’ ranks and turning heads across the league.

Was this trade truly the coup it first appeared to be, or has it quietly become one of Montreal’s most costly missteps? The answers may surprise you. The full story is more complicated—and more intriguing—than anyone could have predicted.

Photo of Canadiens and Blackhawks

Photo credit: Habsfanatics/NHL

When the Montreal Canadiens acquired Kirby Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks, just about everyone said Kent Hughes had done well.

Pretty much everyone agreed that Hughes had pulled off a real steal.

To refresh your memory, the Canadiens’ general manager gave up the 13th and 66th overall picks in the 2022 Draft to acquire the big right-handed centerman, who was only 21 years old at the time.

However, three years later, this trade is hurting the Canadiens organization because the Blackhawks used that first-round pick to select a certain Frank Nazar, who is projected to be Chicago’s second-line center in 2025-26.

A Trade Between the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks That Kent Hughes May Be Starting to Regret Three Years Later

As reported by HABSolumentFan, here’s what the trade from that July 2022 night at the Bell Centre looks like three years later:

To Montreal

Kirby Dach

To Chicago

2022 13th overall pick (Frank Nazar)
2022 66th overall pick (Gavin Hayes)

 

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Despite an interesting first season with the Canadiens, Kirby Dach has dealt with his share of injuries over the past two seasons, and it’s still unclear whether he’ll be ready to start the 2025-26 season on time after undergoing knee surgery last winter.

As for Frank Nazar, he made a good impression late last season with the Blackhawks, and if he keeps progressing well, Kent Hughes may come to regret letting him go – because Nazar could have been the elusive second-line center Hughes has been searching for over the past several months.