Now that the Montreal Canadiens have completed a blockbuster trade to acquire defenceman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, it’s time to take a look at the framework of the deal.
ON TOPIC: BLOCKBUSTER TRADE – Canadiens Trade For Noah Dobson
Fills A Need
The Canadiens were short on talent and depth on the blue line, and though they do have a couple of prospects who may one day ascend to the top-four, Dobson immediately improves a position of weakness for the NHL lineup.
The trade also gives head coach Martin St-Louis more options, a crucial upgrade at a time when the Habs are expected to take the next step in their rebuild. Having Lane Hutson in the lineup is already a significant boon, but every great player needs help, and that’s where Dobson comes into play. He can absorb important minutes while also bolstering the team’s play at 5v5.
The Cost
The Canadiens didn’t get Dobson for cheap, paying a pair of first-round picks (16th and 17th overall), not to mention prospect Emil Heineman. With all due respect to Heineman, his inclusion in the deal is far from a big concern, even if he did provide solid hockey from the bottom-six last season.
As for the picks, given that they’re mid-round, and that the players selected in that range on Friday will likely take a few years before they’re NHL ready, it’s only fair to say this is a decision based on Montreal’s projected Stanley Cup window. At 25 years old, Dobson fits that window perfectly.
It should be noted the Canadiens also signed Dobson to an eight-year contract extension which carries a $9.5 million annual average value, ensuring some stability on the blue line for the foreseeable future.
Underlying Numbers
There have been some concerns about Dobson’s defensive impact, which is fair given that last season was far from his best NHL campaign. That being said, the Islanders were a mess, and Dobson’s numbers still represent a top-pairing defenceman in the NHL, both at 5v5 and on the powerplay.
If you’re looking for a quick overview of Dobson’s underlying numbers, the player card via JFresh provides us with a very reassuring assessment of his impact.
Message To Fans And Team
It couldn’t be clearer, the Montreal Canadiens are dead set on maintaining an upward trajectory, and they’re willing to spend important assets to push toward better results.
It’s a message to the fans, thanking them for their loyalty during the rebuild, while also providing reassurance to key players on the team who are thirsty for success, including captain Nick Suzuki.
We will delve into the specifics of Dobson’s usage in the very near future, not to mention the impact of his new contract, but for now Canadiens fans can rest easy knowing they made a significant improvement to the lineup on Friday.