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The Montreal Canadiens landed Noah Dobson in a sign-and-trade with the New York Islanders on Friday, locking up the 25-year-old defenseman through his prime as part of the blockbuster deal, according to league sources.
Montreal sent forward Emil Heineman and both of its first-round picks in Friday’s draft (Nos. 16 and 17) to the Islanders.
As part of the transaction, Dobson signed an eight-year contract extension carrying a $9.5 million average annual value.
Dobson entered this summer as a restricted free agent with one year of team control remaining. After engaging in unsuccessful contract discussions with agent Judd Moldaver, recently appointed Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche decided to pivot and trade Dobson.
The Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues were among the other teams that pursued the defenseman, according to league sources.
Told #Isles wanted both #CBJ 1st rd picks (No. 14, No. 20) tonight, a roster player (Dmitri Voronkov was reported by The Fourth Period) and another piece (a prospect? a later pick?) in exchange for D Noah Dobson.
They wanted them to beat the #Canadiens offer, and #CBJ wouldn’t.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 27, 2025
It was Dobson’s wish to join a team on the upswing competitively, and the Canadiens were viewed as a favorable landing spot given their stable of young players and the fact that they qualified for a playoff spot this past season.
Dobson had spent his entire career on Long Island after being drafted No. 12 by the Islanders in 2018.
He had a career-best 70 points for the team two years ago and finished last season with 10 goals and 39 points in 71 games.
Why it makes sense for the Canadiens
The right side of the Canadiens blue line is losing David Savard to retirement. The acquisition of Dobson means incumbent Alexandre Carrier — one of the best in-season trades of the year — essentially becomes Savard’s replacement on the third pairing. The result: The Canadiens’ blue line becomes much better in the short term.
But the beauty of this deal for Montreal is that it makes them better for the long term as well, with Dobson locked in for the next eight years. He is a difference-making player coming off a down year and gives the Canadiens two play-driving, offensive defensemen, along with Lane Hutson, without severely weakening the present-day roster.
This move not only makes sense for the Canadiens but is also exactly the kind of deal they entered the offseason attempting to pull off. There is a mild risk to it with massive potential for a huge reward. — Arpon Basu
(Photo: Robert Edwards / Imagn Images)