Jakub Dobes had himself a stellar postseason for the Montreal Canadiens. While Dobes finished the playoffs with a 9-10 record, he was 6-3 following a loss while also posting a 2.66 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. It is worth noting that, prior to Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, Dobes was 9-6 with a 2.53 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.
But even then, there is a world where Dobes isn't part of the Habs' roster to start the 2026-27 campaign.
That's at least what Bleacher Report projected in a recent piece concerning possible trades for New Jersey Devils forward Nico Hischier, who the Devils might not be able to sign to an extension. In one of the four possible scenarios, the article proposed a mock trade that sent Hischier to Montreal in exchange for Dobes and the Habs' first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
There's other possible returns to offer
The article is right to mention the potential of rookie netminder Jacob Fowler and that general manager Kent Hughes shouldn't shy away from such a trade for Hischier if it can be made.
But hockey isn't a game played on paper, and so we can't be sure that Fowler will be better than Dobes in the long-term. At the same time, they are the Habs' two best options in that department as of this writing, with Samuel Montembeault all but sending himself to the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport sans billet.
And even then, why do the other three trades proposed fail to see a goalie involved? Hischier getting moved to Winnipeg would see the Jets' first-round pick moved alongside Cole Perfetti and Brad Lambert. If Los Angeles were to try to trade for Hischier, they would likely have to send their own first-round selection alongside a prospect and defenseman Brandt Clarke. And all the Minnesota Wild would need to do to keep New Jersey interested is to offer up defenseman Quinn Hughes.
As Bleacher Report themselves prove, the Habs don't have to trade Dobes or even a goaltender to acquire Hischier's services.
Montreal has the non-goaltending pieces to offer alongside their first
The agent of a certain Brendan Gallagher was just given permission to seek a trade. If the Habs were to try to move his $6.5 million cap hit, that would give them increased cap flexibility to bring Hischier and his AAV of $7.25 million into the fold. Moving Dobes' contract (worth $965,000 per year) leaves Montreal with only $2.769 million in cap space, while trading only Gallagher's contract would give the front office over $10 million to work with.
Considering that the Habs need to reinforce their offense and that they need to build a fourth defensive line, it would be beneficial for the Habs to maintain some cap space to make the best moves possible.
The Habs do have the prospect pool to dip into if they really wanted to stay away from trading Dobes. Owen Beck could be a piece to package up; save for a few promotions to the Habs lineup, Beck hasn't really been able to make his presence felt in the big leagues. Considering that Michigan Wolverine Michael Hage could make his debut at the end of the 2026-27 campaign and that others like Alexander Zharovsky could make their NHL debut next season, it feels reasonable that Montreal would offer Beck a fresh start with golden goal-scoring forward Jack Hughes and his brother Luke.
Hischier did just record a 66-point season, and it remains to be seen if New Jersey would be sold on just a prospect-veteran-pick combo making its way eastward in place of Hischier. But Gallagher is a gritty and durable veteran who could be of benefit for a Devils team that was ravaged by injuries this season. And he did just record a near-40-point campaign, even though he is nearing his mid-thirties.
For a team like the Devils that can be and has been a playoff team in recent seasons, Gallagher could be a welcome addition in helping New Jersey re-enter the picture.
The Habs should see what kind of an offer is required to acquire Hischier, but it doesn't have to involve giving up Dobes.
And it shouldn't.
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