The New York Islanders are trading defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens for the 16th and 17th overall picks in Friday's draft as well as forward Emil Heineman, the teams announced.
Dobson signed an eight-year extension with an annual average value of $9.5 million with the Canadiens after the trade. The 25-year-old entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, and rumors about his availability heated up Thursday as the Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and Columbus Blue Jackets reportedly heavily pursued him.
The Islanders held the draft's top pick and selected phenom defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
Drafted 12th overall in 2018 by the Islanders, Dobson broke into the league in 2019-20. He finished eighth in Norris Trophy voting in 2024 after a career-high 70 points, but regressed to 39 points this past season.
Dobson's arrival in Montreal gives the Canadiens two pillars on defense, along with reigning rookie of the year Lane Hutson. Montreal qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2021 this spring.
The trade puts the Canadiens approximately $3.39 million over next year's salary cap, but Montreal can place Carey Price's $10.5-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve at any point to become compliant.
Trading Dobson is the first major move of Mathieu Darche's tenure as Islanders general manager. New York hired Darche earlier this offseason after opting against renewing Lou Lamoriello's contract.
