The Montreal Canadiens returned to the Stanley Cup playoffs this past season for the first time since their surprising run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, earning the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 40-31-11 record.
While they ultimately lost their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series to the Washington Capitals in five games, they feel good about their chances at a return trip to the playoffs in the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season.
To that end, they bolstered their defense with the acquisition of Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders and quickly signed him to a $76 million extension. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes spoke on Tuesday about acquiring Dobson.
What Does Canadiens GM Kent Hughes Expect Noah Dobson To Bring to Montreal?
Hughes said he is looking forward to Dobson’s fit on the Montreal blue line and how he can contribute to the team’s future success. He specifically pointed to Dobson’s offensive-minded playing style and his booming shot from the point.
“We’re excited to see what he brings to our team, and I think one of the elements Noah brings, that we knew Logan Mailloux had, was a shot from the blue line,” Hughes said (per Sportsnet.ca’s Eric Engels).
“We lost Logan in the trade for Zack Bolduc, and Justin Barron could shoot, and we traded him to Nashville, so we traded away two right-handed D who could shoot the puck. I would say having shots from the point was a bit of a weakness for our group, so I think adding Noah helps, in addition to his puck movement and the variety that he brings.”
Hughes also said he was pleased to see a new level of accountability with his players last season that ultimately resulted in a playoff return.
“I witnessed a lot of players holding individuals and the group accountable and expecting more from each other, and I expect that will carry forward at the start of this year,” Hughes said.
Dobson, a Prince Edward Island native, was selected by the Islanders in the 2018 NHL Draft and debuted during the 2019-20 season, appearing in 34 games.
He had a breakout season offensively for the Islanders in 2023-24, scoring 10 goals with an impressive 60 assists for a career-high 70 points. However, his assist total dipped to just 29 this past season, which was ultimately his final in an Islanders uniform.
In 388 career NHL games, Dobson has scored 50 goals with 180 assists, along with 10 assists in 31 career postseason games.
