The Montreal Canadiens took an enormous step ahead in 2024-25, they usually’re in search of 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 fee.

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, normal supervisor Kent Hughes took an enormous 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 abilities.

Going again to 2021-22, Dobson has established himself as a terrific top-four defenseman within the NHL, and he hit the 70-point mark in 2024-25. On prime of his offensive contributions, Dobson’s five-on-five impacts have 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 choices, 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 both sides made out on this take care of 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 resulting from 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 fee?

In brief, sure. Dobson is a confirmed commodity in his prime. At his worst, he’s an excellent second-pairing defenseman. At his finest, 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 targets share at five-on-five, per Pure Stat Trick. His plus-three aim differential will not stand out as particular, however that had extra to do with the staff’s poor capturing share 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 an enormous 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 another yr.

Giving up a pair of first-round picks is a steep worth, however what are the probabilities that a kind of gamers turns into nearly as good or higher than Dobson, not to mention each? If Montreal goes to claim itself as a Stanley Cup contender within the close to future, Dobson is a a lot safer guess than any prospect the Habs might draft in the midst 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 could 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 precise transfer.

As I mentioned above, Dobson is a terrific defenseman with loads of ability and dimension, and he is nonetheless beneath the age of 26. The Islanders will nearly definitely exchange him with No. 1 total choose Matthew Schaefer on the NHL Draft, however there was a world the place New York might have had each gamers. Pairing Dobson with Schaefer to guide the blue line, because the Canadiens are doing with Dobson and Hutson, might have been an elite mixture for years to return.

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. Finally, how the Isles and their followers view this commerce will likely be based mostly upon what they do with picks Nos. 16 and 17. In the event that they commerce up and draft middle James Hagens — and New York winds up with two franchise cornerstones on this draft class — it’s going to 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+