The Noah Dobson sweepstakes came to a frenzied finish Friday afternoon with the Montreal Canadiens emerging on top. Just hours before the 2025 NHL Entry Draft’s first round kicked off, Kent Hughes and Mathieu Darche completed a trade sending the highly-touted defenseman to the Habs in exchange for a forward and two draft picks.
Reports began flowing in Friday indicating that the race to get Dobson had come down to Montreal and the Columbus Blue Jackets. In the end, it seems Columbus wasn’t willing to outbid the Canadiens, with Hughes putting such a significant trade package on the bidding table.
It’s a scenario we’ve seen happen with the Canadiens before: splashy Draft-day acquisitions coupled with a big price tag. Think Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook. This time Hughes and Jeff Gorton saw fit to part with both of this year’s first-round picks (16, 17) along with promising 23-year-old forward Emil Heineman (RFA).
However, securing Dobson on their blue line took a bigger commitment than just the price of the trade. Montreal also inked the rearguard to an eight-year contract extension valued at $9.5 million per year.
What Now?
While the acquisition of Dobson certainly helps to shore up the back end for Montreal, it also opens a series of questions. Could the newcomer’s new salary affect young Lane Hutson’s contract negotiations? What happens to promising right-handed defensemen Logan Mailloux or David Reinbacher? Will other defensive spots open up this summer to allow either prospect to compete for an NHL job? How about that elusive 2C or top-six player the Habs still need to round out their forwards? Could Hughes have instead used picks 16 and 17 to do what the Islanders are rumored to do and move up to snag a top-10 prospect to fill that elite forward position?
It’s too early to form an overall grade or opinion on this trade until we see where the chips fall either in additional trades this summer and how Montreal approaches free agency and the remainder of the offsesason. One thing’s for sure, Hughes and company continue to prove that they’re willing to make big moves around Draft time. Time will tell if this one goes boom or bust.
