The Montreal Canadiens have acquired offensive defenceman from the Latest York Islanders, based on media reports.
In return, the Islanders reportedly receive forward Emil Heineman and the sixteenth and seventeenth overall picks in Friday night’s NHL draft. The Islanders also hold the highest pick, with defenceman Matthew Schaefer expected to go first overall.
Dobson, a 25-year-old from Summerside, P.E.I., produced 10 goals and 29 assists in 71 games last season.
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In 2023-24, the right-shot blueliner posted a career-high 70 points in 79 games, ending second in scoring on the Islanders and seventh amongst NHL defencemen.
Dobson, who was a pending restricted free agent, played all six of his NHL seasons on Long Island after being drafted twelfth overall by the franchise in 2018.
The six-foot-four, 200-pound Dobson joins a young Canadiens blue line led by Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson.
Dobson fills a necessity for Montreal on the appropriate side. Alexandre Carrier was the one remaining right-shot blueliner on the NHL roster after David Savard retired this off-season. Defence prospects David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux are also right shots.
The trade signals one other step forward in Montreal’s transition from rebuilding team to playoff contender.
The Canadiens, who held a top-five pick within the last three NHL drafts, exceeded expectations by reaching the playoffs last season because of a dramatic 15-5-6 run after February’s 4 Nations break.
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