Dach was traded to Edmonton on March 4 alongside Jason Dickinson in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional first-round pick – a perplexing move from Chicago’s perspective, given the Blackhawks spent years waiting for his tools to develop and moved him just as he was beginning to show them something. The 195 hits in 56 games – 10th in the NHL and first among all rookies – undersell his defensive contributions. He takes on center-like defensive responsibilities from the wing, is consistently the first forward back, and fills in to whatever defensive role is required. The offense has been minimal, and that remains the core concern for a player whose NHL viability depends on his physical tools carrying enough weight to offset limited production. He played two games after the trade before leaving injured. Edmonton’s willingness to audition anyone in their bottom six means an NHL look is not out of the question, as long as he’s not too banged up. The tools are there, but the overall package remains a work in progress.

Dach was traded to the Edmonton Oilers at the 2026 NHL Trade deadline.

After getting a brief NHL taste last year and putting together a strong playoff run in Rockford, he came into camp with a clear goal and backed it up by being one of the standouts. That momentum carried into the regular season where he’s now an NHL fixture. What makes his year so interesting is how Chicago has used him. He’s bounced from a checking line up to Bedard’s wing with Burakovsky, and back into a middle-six role with Dickinson and Donato. That versatility is exactly what Chicago values at this point in the team’s trajectory. Dach can plug into different lines without losing his identity. He’s shaping into a reliable, adaptable NHL forward who can impact the game even when he is not scoring.

Colton Dach took real strides in 2024–25, flashing upside while navigating the NHL-AHL split. In Rockford, he posted 26 points in 33 games driven by a solid 14.6% shooting clip. That confidence earned him 25 games with Chicago, where he added seven points in limited TOI minutes and threw 86 hits, showing his physicality. Dach looked comfortable in a depth role, using his size and forechecking pressure to stay noticeable. Bridging that AHL success into NHL consistency is the next step. If he can lock in a role and keep pushing pace, he is tracking towards more NHL ice time next year as a potential power forward with some scoring pop.

Dach was selected to play with Team Canada in the World Juniors at the beginning of this year but sustained a shoulder injury during the tournament. He has had a tough season with multiple concussions and the shoulder injury that has kept him out for a good portion of the season. He was then traded to the Seattle Thunderbirds while being injured with the Kelowna Rockets. With the trade, Dach joined fellow Blackhawks prospects Kevin Korchinski and Noah Allen in Seattle. Since returning, he has played 14 games with Kelowna and posted nine goals and eight assists during the regular season. He has further continued that success into the playoffs with 14 points in 17 playoff games. Although his injury may have slightly delayed his progress, Dach will be at training camp ready to fight for a middle six role on this young Blackhawks team.