Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes is turning heads early in the 2025-26 season, and his stellar play is inserting him into the Calder Trophy conversation. While teammate Ivan Demidov was the initial favorite for the rookie of the year award, Dobes' outstanding performance may steal the spotlight.
The 24-year-old Dobes has emerged as a strong contender for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best rookie. Other rookies in contention are Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders, Emmett Finnie of the Detroit Red Wings, Jimmy Snuggerud of the St. Louis Blues, and fellow Hab, Oliver Kapanen.
Dobes' rise is happening because Samuel Montembeault, who was expected to be the Canadiens' number one goalie, has had a difficult start to the season, opening the door for Dobes to take the reins. Dobes has seized the opportunity, posting a 6-0 record with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.
Jakub Dobeš was named the NHL's third star for October. The young netminder ended October with a perfect record of six wins in six starts, along with a .930 save percentage and a 1.97 goals-against average. Following an overtime win against the Seattle Kraken on October 28, 2025, Dobeš became the fourth Canadiens goalie in the expansion era to begin a season with a winning streak of at least six games, joining Carey Price, Wayne Thomas, and Ken Dryden.
Dobes' journey to the NHL wasn't straightforward. At 16, he moved from Czechia to St. Louis, Missouri, and played in the NAHL and USHL before going to Ohio State. The Canadiens drafted him in the fifth round (136th overall) in 2020.
Dobes made his NHL debut on December 28, 2024, against the Florida Panthers, recording a 34-save shutout. He is the fourth Canadiens goalie to record a shutout in their debut. On January 4, 2025, Dobeš became the first Canadiens goalie to allow one goal through his first two career NHL starts.
Standing tall at 6-foot-4 and weighing 215 pounds, Dobes has the size to be an imposing presence in the net. He combines his physical attributes with sound technique and quickness. While he is praised for his athleticism, Dobes needs to improve his body strength and rely less on athleticism and more on technique.
While Dobes is off to a great start, maintaining consistency will be key. As teams gain familiarity with his playing style, they will identify his strengths and weaknesses. The challenge for Dobes will be to continue to adapt and improve his game.
If Dobeš wins the Calder, he would be following in the footsteps of fellow Canadien, Lane Hutson, who won the award last season. It's rare for a team to have back-to-back Calder Trophy winners; the last time was in 1968 when Boston Bruins centre Derek Sanderson won, following Bobby Orr the year before.
Jakub Dobes signed a two-year contract with Montreal on July 6, 2025, for an average annual value of $965,000.
