Montreal Canadiens' Noah Dobson Leaves Pre-Season Game Early: Update on Defenseman's Performance and Impact

Montreal Canadiens' Noah Dobson Leaves Pre-Season Game Early: Update on Defenseman's Performance and Impact

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson had to leave the pre-season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs early and did not return for the third period. Dobson, 25, played 15:16 minutes in the first two periods with a minus-1 rating. The Maple Leafs were ahead 5-2 when he left the game. Dobson, a 6-foot-4 right-shot defenseman, was traded from the New York Islanders before the 2025 NHL Draft in June for forward Emil Heineman and two first-round picks. Montreal signed Dobson to an eight-year, $76 million contract with a $9.5 million annual cap hit.

Last season, Dobson scored 10 goals and 39 points in 71 games with the Islanders, averaging 23:16 of ice time. The native of Summerside, P.E.I., had a career-best season in 2023-24 with 10 goals and 70 points in 79 games. Montreal is aiming to build on their playoff appearance last season, their first since 2021.