Rumours are heating up that the Montreal Canadiens are in hot pursuit of New York Islanders defenceman Noah Dobson. Canadiens Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, Jeff Gorton, confirmed on Thursday that the team has had talks on trading their two first-round picks, 16 and 17, to either move up or down in the draft. However, it now looks like they might not make a pick in the first round at all, as it will likely take both first-round picks and prospects to acquire someone of Dobson's calibre.
Jeff Gorton discussed whether the Habs could move up or down the draft order during his press conference on Thursday
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The Canadiens are not the only suitor in hot pursuit of acquiring Dobson's services, as Pierre Lebrun reported that it could be down to a three-team race, with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the St. Louis Blues also in the mix. The report indicates that Dobson's preference is to remain in the Eastern Conference, which could make this a two-horse race between the Canadiens and Blue Jackets. If the Canadiens can pull off this move without giving up too much of their future (Michael Hage or David Reinbacher), it could make the team Stanley Cup contenders for years to come.
There's a real sense that a Dobson trade could happen by tonight given the possibility of a first-round pick from tonight being included in the trade. St. Louis, Montreal and Columbus among the teams with interest. https://t.co/ZMurZET4AH
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 27, 2025
For those who are not familiar with Dobson, he is a smooth-skating, versatile, two-way defenceman who could log big minutes. Dobson had a quieter 2024–25 campaign, likely impacted by the Islanders' overall struggles. His breakout season came in the 2023-24 season. He recorded 10 goals and 70 points in 79 games while averaging nearly 25 minutes a game. He can play in all situations and would greatly improve the Canadiens' defence. At only 25 years old, he would fit perfectly with the timeline of the team's core, with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield both being around the same age.
The only downside to pursuing Dobson is that he's entering the final year of his contract and is reportedly seeking a new deal worth over $10 million per season. In comparison, Cale Makar, who is viewed as the best defenceman in the NHL, is making $9 million a season. Makar signed his deal a couple of years ago, but it is still hard to justify another defenceman commanding a higher salary. If the Canadiens can work out a contract in the $9 million range before finalizing the trade, it could be a big win for a team looking to make the jump from playoff hopefuls to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.