June 27, 2025 | 10:39am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CANADIENS, BLUE JACKETS IN RACE FOR DOBSON

Noah Dobson, defenceman

The New York Islanders continue to be engaged in heavy trade discussions with multiple teams about pending restricted free agent defenceman Noah Dobson, with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens at the front of the race.

Dobson, 25, is on an expiring three-year, $12 million contract and is believed to be asking for as much as $11 million per year on his next contract, depending on term.

Islanders GM Mathieu Darche was speaking with Dobson’s camp on Thursday about a potential extension but has also been working the phone lines compiling trade offers, as TFP reported yesterday.

As TFP’s David Pagnotta reported on Thursday – watch video – the Islanders are keeping their options open and could trade Dobson for a package that they may flip to obtain another top pick in the first-round of today’s NHL Draft.

Dobson currently ranks No.1 on TFP’s Summer Trade Watch List.

The Canadiens are believed to include the 16th and 17th overall picks in a package for Dobson, while the Blue Jackets may look to package the 14th overall pick and the 20th overall pick with at least one young player.

The Islanders are believed to have interest in Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov, who is also eligible to become a restricted free agent July 1.

The St. Louis Blues and Utah Mammoth are two other teams that have expressed interest in Dobson, but it is unclear if either team has made any traction in an attempt to acquire him.

Darche may look to package parts of what he acquires for Dobson in a move with Utah for the fourth-overall pick.

Dobson collected 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points in 71 games this past season.