He was even moved to the wing in recent games, giving up his spot to Jake Evans as the second-line center.
It just wasn't working for him in the center position.
That said, it's worth noting that missing almost the entire 2023-2024 season didn't help him. However, a journalist has made a trade suggestion involving Dach and another player from the 2019 NHL Draft class.
According to Cole Shelton of the site Heavy, he sees a scenario where Kent Hughes might call his Anaheim Ducks counterpart, Pat Verbeek, to propose this trade:
This is a bold proposition. Even though it's just a suggestion and not a grounded rumor, it's worth taking a closer look.
We're talking about two 23-year-old players who haven't truly found their footing since entering the NHL. A change of scenery might do them both good, especially in Zegras's case.
After two excellent seasons between 2021 and 2023, his production has significantly dropped. Numerous trade rumors involving him circulated during the summer of 2024, particularly with the Montreal Canadiens.
Like Kirby Dach, Zegras is off to a slow start this season, with only six points, two goals, in 18 games with the Ducks, despite occasionally playing on the team's top line and the second power-play unit.
Even though this trade is unlikely to happen, it remains that both young forwards are currently struggling, and their respective teams might lose patience if they don't start producing soon.
What about you? Would you make this trade?