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A Top Right-Shot Defenceman Has Been Traded

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Today is the day of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft but we all know trades are always happening. For this news, it seems all the recent rumours came to fruition. Case in point, today we have a blockbuster, as a top defenceman from around the NHL has been dealt. The New York Islanders d-man Noah Dobson has been dealt today to the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs appear to be signing him for eight years, at $9.5 million per year.

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Draft Day 2025 is the Day of the Noah Dobson Trade

Dobson is one of the top young defencemen in the game. He is a great skater, excellent offensive capabilities, and hard to catch out of position defensively. Some may even have him pegged for an inclusion on the Team Canada Olympic coming up in 2026.

The Prince Edward Island native is 6’4″ and there’s not much he can’t do. Dobson has played 23 to 24 minutes a night the past couple seasons now on the Island. Furthermore, 2023-24 saw him hit a career high 60 assists. He dropped back a bit in 2024-25, but still very impressive. He scored ten goals, had 29 assists for 39 points through 71 games. However, he plays such a great all-around game. This was evidenced by his 5v5 CF% Rel. of 5.0.

What Does This Mean for Montreal

In acquiring Noah Dobson via trade, you are getting an elite, right-shot defenceman. He will pair great with a left shot, offensive-minded defenceman. If that becomes the pairing, they will elevate to one of the top duos in the entire NHL. More than that, the Habs have quite the top four for the future. Between Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, and David Reinbacher, they are all young, and already elite.

What’s the Islanders Take

For the Islanders, they must have been reluctant to spend Dobson’s money on a single resource. They are very responsible with their spending, so in that sense it does make sense. Moreover, it does indicate a rebuild of sorts. Based on their remaining defencemen and no guarantee restricted free agent Alexander Romanov is back in 2025-26, it will be a bit of defence by committee. On the flip side, this potentially frees up cash for Romanov. In any case, this does change the Isles dynamic heading into 2025-26.

The Islanders already own the first overall pick. They might end up taking James Hagens, who is a Long Island product. Furthermore, in this Noah Dobson Trade, they are adding two more first-round selections. The Isles have added the 16th and 17th overall picks from the Habs. There’s thought they will try to trade up still, to find a partner with Hagens. Can anyone say Matthew Schaefer?

Emil Heineman is also coming over. Heineman is 23 and coming off a decent season in Montreal. He had ten goals and eight assists in 62 games, in a depth role. He is someone the Islanders can have confidence to add to the lineup.

Well there you have it, the Habs have won the Dobson sweepstakes, even if they were short-lived.

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Main Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The post A Top Right-Shot Defenceman Has Been Traded appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.