The Montreal Canadiens have made a significant move to bolster their defense, acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for Emil Heineman and two first-round picks (16th and 17th overall) in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. This trade addresses a crucial need for a right-shot defenseman and signifies the Canadiens' transition from a rebuilding team to a playoff contender.
Dobson, a 25-year-old from Summerside, P.E.I., has signed an eight-year contract extension with the Canadiens, carrying an average annual value of $9.5 million. He has played six seasons with the Islanders after being drafted 12th overall in 2018. Dobson's best season came in 2023-24 when he recorded a career-high 70 points in 79 games, finishing second in scoring on the Islanders and seventh among NHL defensemen. While his production dipped to 39 points in 71 games in 2024-25, his overall numbers remain impressive.
The acquisition of Dobson addresses a pressing need for the Canadiens, who lacked a right-shot defenseman after David Savard's retirement. Alexandre Carrier was the only remaining right-shot blueliner on the NHL roster. While prospects David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux are also right shots, they appear to need more development time in the minors.
Dobson is expected to improve the Canadiens' puck retrievals, controlled exits, and chances off the rush, which were areas of weakness for the team. His presence on the blue line will also provide a boost to the power play.
With the addition of Dobson, the Canadiens' defensive pairings could look something like this:
The Canadiens' defense is relatively young, with several promising players under the age of 25. Lane Hutson, who recently won the Calder Memorial Trophy, leads the charge. Arber Xhekaj, however, may find himself watching from the press box.
The departure of Emil Heineman, while a loss, was deemed a worthwhile price to pay for a player of Dobson's caliber. Heineman, a forward prospect, was included in the trade package to acquire the young, right-shot defenseman.
Looking ahead to the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Canadiens no longer hold their first-round picks. However, they will still have an opportunity to add to their prospect pool in later rounds. Some potential draft targets for the Canadiens include Carter Bear and Justin Carbonneau. The Canadiens are also hosting an expanded "Prospect Showdown" in September, featuring top prospects from their organization as well as those from the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets.
