Noah Dobson trade: Canadiens earn high marks in deal for star defenseman from Islanders

The Montreal Canadiens took a great step forward in 2024-25 and seek more progress after acquiring the Ombudsman Noah Dobson of the islanders of New York, According to Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet. Montreal sent a couple of first round options, along with striker Emil Heineman in New York, but Dobson may be worth it.

Last season, the Canadians ended up with a three -year playoff drought and they seemed to rise. With the team in an upward trajectory, CEO Kent Hughes made a great swing ahead of 2025 Nhl Draft. Montreal sent the general options no. 16 and 17 in the Islands of Dobson, a 25 -year defender with great moving skills.

Returning to 2021-22, Dobson has established itself as a first four-place defender in the NHL, and reached the mark of 70 points by 2024-25. In addition to their offensive contributions, the five-five Dobson impacts were excellent last year, and seemed a two-way elite defender.

The islanders have clearly adopted the reconstruction mode and now have three first -round selections, including the general selection number 1. The way New York uses these options will ultimately decide how this trade is perceived in the next three or five years.

Let’s look at how each side was made in this agreement with Dobson that goes to the north of the border to Mont -Real.

The trade

Canadians receive

-D Noah Dobson

The islanders receive

-2025 Selection of the first round (No. 16)
-2025 Selection of the first round (no. 17)
-F Emil Heineman

The notes

Montreal Canadiens

There had been smoke around Dobson due to their ongoing contract negotiations with the islanders, and the Canadians hit while the iron was hot. Montreal now has another specialist proponent to combine with the winner of the Calder 2025 trophy, Lane Hutson at the back, but did it worth the cost?

In short, yes. Dobson is a commodity tested at the beginning. In his worst, he is a very good second apartment defender. At its best, Dobson has shown that it can be a true number 1 on the blue line. Last season he provided some tests for both of them. Dobson’s offense fell quite a bit, but he still scored 39 points while publishing 54.5% of targets for five to five, for a natural trick. Its differential of three more objectives will not highlight so special, but this had more to do with the bad percentage of the team with Dobson on the ice.

As part of trade, Dobson will sign an eight -year contract worth $ 9.5 million per season, according to Friedman. This is a great investment for the Habs, but not when it is considered their first level potential and the fact that Hutson is in a level of entry to $ 950,000 for another year.

To give up a couple of first round options is a strong price, but what are the possibilities that one of these players becomes good or better than Dobson, let alone both? If Montreal states as a Stanley Cup contestant in the near future, Dobson is a much safe bet than any perspective that Habs can write in the middle of the first lap. Degree: A-

Islanders of New York

The islanders change course after years of being hooked at the midday and moving from Dobson after negotiations of unsuccessful contracts have significant effects on ripples, for worse or for worse. New York saved money and loaded on the capital project, but this does not necessarily mean that this was the right movement.

As I mentioned earlier, Dobson is a fantastic defender with a lot of skill and size, and he is still under 26 years old. The islanders will replace him almost with the number 1 of the general team of Matthew Schaefer on the NHL project, but there was a world where New York could have had both players. Combining Dobson with Schaefer to lead the blue line, as the Canadians do with Dobson and Hutson, it could have been a combination of elite over the next few years.

This does not mean that the islanders fled in this agreement. Two elections in the first round are a good return and Heineman can provide a deep depth. Ultimately, the way the Islands and their fans see this trade will be based on what they do with elections no. 16 and 17. If they market and erase the center of James Hagens, and New York ends with two previous franchises of this class of draft, will be unpleasant. If the prospects do not leave and Dobson thrives in Mont -real, it will be seen as a colossal failure. At the moment, we will go somewhere in between. Degree: C+