The Montreal Canadiens took a giant step ahead in 2024-25, they usually’re searching for extra progress after buying star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, in response to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Montreal despatched a pair of first-round picks, together with ahead Emil Heineman to New York, however Dobson might be value the price.
This previous season, the Canadiens ended a three-year playoff drought and appeared like a staff on the rise. With the staff on an upward trajectory, common supervisor Kent Hughes took a giant swing forward of the 2025 NHL Draft. Montreal despatched the No. 16 and No. 17 total picks to the Isles for Dobson, a 25-year-old defenseman with nice puck-moving expertise.
Going again to 2021-22, Dobson has established himself as an awesome top-four defenseman within the NHL, and he hit the 70-point mark in 2024-25. On high of his offensive contributions, Dobson’s five-on-five impacts had been terrific final yr, and he appeared like an elite two-way defender.
The Islanders have clearly embraced rebuilding mode, they usually now have three first-round picks, together with the No. 1 total choose. How New York makes use of these picks will in the end determined how this commerce is perceived within the subsequent three to 5 years.
Let’s check out how all sides made out on this cope with Dobson going north of the border to Montreal.
The commerce
Canadiens obtain
-D Noah Dobson
Islanders obtain
-2025 first-round choose (No. 16)
-2025 first-round choose (No. 17)
-F Emil Heineman
The grades
Montreal Canadiens
There had been smoke round Dobson attributable to his ongoing contract negotiations with the Islanders, and the Canadiens struck whereas the iron was scorching. Montreal now has one other expert defenseman to pair with 2025 Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson on the again finish, however was it value the price?
Briefly, sure. Dobson is a confirmed commodity in his prime. At his worst, he’s an excellent second-pairing defenseman. At his greatest, Dobson has proven potential to be a real No. 1 on the blue line. This previous season supplied some proof for each. Dobson’s offense fell off fairly a bit, however he nonetheless notched 39 factors whereas posting a 54.5% anticipated objectives share at five-on-five, per Pure Stat Trick. His plus-three objective differential will not stand out as particular, however that had extra to do with the staff’s poor capturing proportion with Dobson on the ice.
As a part of the commerce, Dobson will signal an eight-year contract value $9.5 million per season, in response to Friedman. That is a giant funding for the Habs, however not when you think about his top-pairing potential and the truth that Hutson is on an entry-level contract at $950,000 for yet one more yr.
Giving up a pair of first-round picks is a steep value, however what are the possibilities that a type of gamers turns into nearly as good or higher than Dobson, not to mention each? If Montreal goes to say itself as a Stanley Cup contender within the close to future, Dobson is a a lot safer wager than any prospect the Habs may draft in the course of the primary spherical. Grade: A-
New York Islanders
The Islanders are altering course after years of being caught within the mushy center, and shifting on from Dobson after fruitless contract negotiations may have main ripple results, for higher or worse. New York saved itself some cash and loaded up on draft capital, however that does not essentially imply this was the correct transfer.
As I mentioned above, Dobson is a terrific defenseman with loads of ability and measurement, and he is nonetheless underneath the age of 26. The Islanders will nearly actually substitute him with No. 1 total choose Matthew Schaefer on the NHL Draft, however there was a world the place New York may have had each gamers. Pairing Dobson with Schaefer to steer the blue line, because the Canadiens are doing with Dobson and Hutson, may have been an elite mixture for years to come back.
That is to not say the Islanders obtained fleeced on this deal. Two first-round picks is a pleasant return, and Heineman can present some ahead depth. In the end, how the Isles and their followers view this commerce might be based mostly upon what they do with picks Nos. 16 and 17. In the event that they commerce up and draft heart James Hagens — and New York winds up with two franchise cornerstones on this draft class — it would have been a rousing success. If the prospects do not pan out and Dobson thrives in Montreal, it will likely be seen as a colossal failure. For now, we’ll go someplace in between. Grade: C+
