With two goals against the Sabres on Sunday night, the hype around Blackhawks No. 3 pick Kirby Dach took a massive leap forward, as those goals led Chicago to its fourth straight victory.
Since it was confirmed by the Blackhawks that Dach would not be returning to the WHL, he’s become a nightly fixture in Chicago’s bottom six, with coach Jeremy Colliton giving him one night off as an apparent attempt at “load management” for the 18-year-old center.
The last time Chicago had top-three picks make season debuts, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were teenagers on a rebuilding Blackhawks team with little top-line talent.