Montreal Canadiens acquire defenceman Noah Dobson from New York Islanders

TSN 690 Radio host Sean Campbell says the Habs trade for Noah Dobson signals the team's rebuild is entering a new phase and they want playoff success.

Hours before the NHL Entry Draft, the Montreal Canadiens have made a big swing and made a move to acquire defenceman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders.

Hockey Night in Canada host Elliotte Friedman said the Islanders will get both of Montreal’s first-round picks (16 and 17 overall), along with Emil Heineman.

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnson confirmed that he signed an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million a year.

TSN 690 Host Sean Campbell said the move means the Habs are into the next phase of the team’s rebuild that began three years ago.

“It’s about making the team a whole lot better,” he said. “This is step one... I don’t think that they’re done. Does that mean, are they done at the draft? Are they done when it comes to free agency? We’ll see, but I still think that they want to add a couple more big pieces so that they could get to that next level.”

The Islanders drafted the six-foot, 200-pound, 25-year-old, right-handed defenceman from Summerside, PEI, number 12 overall in 2018.

He played six seasons in Long Island.

In 2024-2025, Dobson scored 10 goals and added 29 assists and was a -16 in 71 games.

Dobson fills a need for Montreal on the right side. Alexandre Carrier was the only remaining right-shot blueliner on the NHL roster after David Savard retired this offseason. Defence prospects David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux are also right shots.

The trade signals another step forward in Montreal’s transition from rebuilding team to playoff contender.

The Canadiens, which held a top-five pick in the last three NHL drafts, exceeded expectations by reaching the playoffs last season thanks to a dramatic 15-5-6 run after February’s 4 Nations break.

“They made the playoffs this year,” said Campbell. “The idea now is you make the playoffs, but now you have success in the playoffs.”

With files from The Canadian Press