The Montreal Canadiens Acquire Noah Dobson in Trade with New York Islanders

According to recent media reports, the Montreal Canadiens have made a significant move to bolster their defensive lineup by acquiring offensive defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. In exchange for Dobson, the Islanders will receive forward Emil Heineman, as well as the 16th and 17th overall picks in the upcoming NHL draft. The Islanders, who already hold the top pick, are expected to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall selection.

Noah Dobson, a 25-year-old native of Summerside, P.E.I., had an impressive season with the Islanders, recording 10 goals and 29 assists in 71 games. In the 2023-24 season, Dobson reached a career-high 70 points in 79 games, ranking second in scoring on the Islanders and seventh among all NHL defensemen.

Having spent his entire six-year NHL career with the Islanders after being drafted 12th overall in 2018, Dobson brings a wealth of experience and talent to the Canadiens’ blue line. Standing at six-foot-four and weighing 200 pounds, Dobson is a right-shot defenseman who will complement the young defensive core led by Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson.

With the departure of David Savard, the Canadiens were in need of a right-shot defenseman, and Dobson fills that void perfectly. Alexandre Carrier was the only remaining right-shot blueliner on the NHL roster, with defense prospects David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux also featuring as right shots.

This trade signifies the Canadiens’ continued progress from a rebuilding team to a playoff contender. Despite holding top-five picks in the last three NHL drafts, Montreal exceeded expectations last season by securing a playoff spot following a remarkable 15-5-6 run after the 4 Nations break in February.