On Friday, the Montreal Canadiens announced they agreed to terms on an entry-level contract (ELC) with goaltending prospect Jakub Dobes. The signing was not quite as anticipated as Sean Farrell’s was, but it was still received very positively by Canadiens fans. And how could they not? Dobes provides the Canadiens with something every good organization needs, organizational depth.
Two-year, entry-level contract for Jakub Dobes
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) March 31, 2023
The 21-year-old netminder also agreed to a contract allowing him to finish this season with the Laval Rocket. https://t.co/LzSHQ4Maj4
The contract with the Canadiens doesn’t actually kick in until next season, but Dobes signed a contract with Laval which allows him to play for the Rocket for the remainder of the season. Jayden Struble did the same thing when he signed his ELC a few weeks ago. With the Rocket in a playoff push, if Dobes does get into a couple games, they will certainly be meaningful. With Cayden Primeau set to start another game for the Habs on Tuesday, I have to think the Czech goaltender might just get the chance to play.
In college, the Ohio State Buckeye put up fantastic numbers, doing so in the toughest conference in the country, the Big Ten. In two years in Columbus, Dobes posted elite numbers, proving he was one of the best goalies in college hockey. While at Ohio State, the former Buckeye had 21 wins in each of his two seasons there, posting six shutouts along the way. His numbers are very encouraging and show he has the potential to be a good goalie for the Canadiens.
Goalies are very difficult to project, so I don’t want to make any bold claims about what Dobes could become, but he does look like he has the tools to be a solid goalie at the NHL level. He’s six-foot-four and fills the net quite nicely, and as mentioned, he comes from the best conference in college hockey. And Dobes played a ton of minutes there, playing in all 40 games his team played this season. So he’s battle-tested and ready for the next level.
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of this signing is the depth it provides the Canadiens. Having depth throughout the organization is critical for any position because injuries happen. Canadiens fans are well aware of that. So if a goalie goes out with an injury, having someone you feel comfortable calling up is essential. Earlier this season, Jake Allen went down with an injury, and Sam Montembault started eight games in a row. The Canadiens clearly didn’t want to play Primeau, and although that appears to have changed, this could still come up again later.
It’s not just about having healthy bodies, it’s about having quality depth, and even if Dobes isn’t NHL-ready for a little bit, he could make a spot start if he plays well and the Habs need him. Or, keeping Primeau in Montreal protects Dobes from playing earlier than he should, something Cayden Primeau didn’t have the luxury of when he first broke into the NHL. Depth at any position is important, but especially at the goaltending position. There’s a lot to be excited about with this signing, and hopefully, Dobes can develop into a quality starter for the Canadiens.
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