The Montréal Canadiens don’t look like a playoff contender, which is ok. 

For the Canadiens, this season is less about point totals and more about the progress of young talent. 

On that front, the Canadiens are already earning high grades: Nick Suzuki is defying analytics with his performance, Cole Caufield is writing his name in century-old record books, and Kaiden Guhle is shutting down top stars. 

The most striking evolution, however, has been Kirby Dach’s. 

Dach’s qualities shone with the Chicago Blackhawks, but he was mostly a rush attacker. On the walls of the offensive zone, he struggled to keep the puck in control of his team. He lacked awareness, puck protection skills, and forced passes to teammates.

The lack of progress in his wall play, a vital aspect of the NHL game, is likely one