MONTREAL - Noah Dobson says it's a dream come true to join the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadiens acquired the offensive defenceman from the New York Islanders and signed him to an eight-year, US$76-million contract extension Friday.
Dobson didn't hesitate for long before putting pen to paper on a long-term deal with the historic franchise — one that also appears to have a bright future.
"To be part of the Montreal Canadiens, it's an honour," he told reporters during a video conference Friday night. "It's the best hockey market in the world. The fans are incredible, I love playing at the Bell Centre. And then also the group of players they have already, and the talent they have on the team and what they've been building.
"Super excited to join that group and add to it, and excited about what we can do down the road."
In return, the Islanders received forward Emil Heineman and the 16th and 17th overall picks in Friday night's NHL draft. The Islanders also held the top pick and selected defenceman Matthew Schaefer first overall.
Dobson, a 25-year-old from Summerside, P.E.I., produced 10 goals and 29 assists in 71 games last season.
In 2023-24, he posted a career-high 70 points in 79 games, finishing second in scoring on the Islanders and seventh among NHL defencemen.
The right-shot blueliner, who was a pending restricted free agent, played all six of his NHL seasons on Long Island after being drafted 12th overall by the franchise in 2018.
Dobson said he and the Islanders tried to reach an agreement on a contract extension before looking for trade suitors.
"That was always the goal at the start, but unable to find any common ground on that," he said, calling it a mutual decision to part ways. "At some point, we just felt it would be best to go in different directions and maybe look for a trade."
Coming into the week, Dobson sensed that his time as an Islander was drawing to a close, making for a stressful few days with his wedding set for Monday.
"We're dealing with that and then the trade stuff," he said. "It's been a crazy couple days for sure."
Dobson has already played in the province of Quebec, having won a Memorial Cup with the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in 2019.
The six-foot-four, 200-pound rearguard joins a young Canadiens blue line led by Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson.
Montreal also boasts veteran Mike Matheson and 23-year-old hard-hitter Kaiden Guhle.
"They got some tremendous players back there," Dobson said. "Lane Hutson, just watching him last season from afar, just a special talent."
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 off-season. Defence prospects David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux also shoot right.
The trade signals another step forward in Montreal’s transition from rebuilding team to playoff contender.
The Canadiens, who 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.
Next up on his bucket list, general manager Kent Hughes said he plans to search for more help on offence, with Canadiens fans clamouring for a second-line centre.
"We're going to continue to look at whether we have opportunities to improve our team up front via trade," Hughes told reporters in Montreal. "If not, is there something in the free agent market that could make sense for us?
"I can't tell you today that I feel with some crazy degree of certainty that we're going to accomplish it, but we're gonna try."
This report by ºÃÉ«tvwas first published June 27, 2025.
