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Noah Dobson: Player Profile

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Andrew Walsh | Last updated Jun 17, 2026 2:54 PM ET

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Noah Dobson was born on January 7^th, 2000, in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada. He began his hockey career with the Summerside Capitals Bantam team as a defenseman. In 29 games played, Dobson scored 14 goals and added 17 assists as a 13-year-old. Additionally, Dobson scored one goal and added five assists in six playoff games this season. This was an impressive stat line for a young hockey player to begin his journey to professional hockey.

Dobson then made a move to the Red Bull Hockey Academy under-18 team. In 24 games during the 2015-16 season, Dobson scored three goals and added 13 assists. During the next season, Dobson helped the Red Bull Academy in Salzburg, Austria, get to the playoffs. Deciding to make a move to Austria from Prince Edward Island was not an easy decision. Dobson relied on his family to make this decision.

“I was looking to go off the island,” Dobson recalled. “I was exploring some options. Originally, I was probably going to go play in the GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League). But things just kind of fell through with not being a (Toronto) resident and all that stuff. So my family didn’t feel comfortable with it. This was like September and I was kind of not stuck, but trying to figure out where to go, and this opportunity came across through my representation. Brian Savage and Pierre Pagé, who were over there at the academy, reached out. Basically, just kind of said: Why don’t you and your dad come over, check out things we’re doing here? If you like it, stay. If not, no problem.’”

Noah Dobson Drafted 12^th Overall by the New York Islanders in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft

Noah Dobson was drafted by the New York Islanders with the 12th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft out of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. At 6’4” and 201 lbs., Dobson was known for having a heavy shot. The Buffalo Sabres drafted defenseman Rasmus Dahlin with the first overall pick in this draft. In 28 games played for the Huskies before being drafted, Dobson scored six goals and added 30 assists. How would Dobson adjust to the NHL game after playing in the QMJHL?

In his first season with the Islanders, Dobson scored one goal and added six assists in 34 games. During the next season, in 46 games played, Dobson scored three goals and added 11 assists. Dobson played six seasons for the Islanders before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens. The one thing that the Islanders could not do with Dobson as part of the defensive corps was make the Stanley Cup playoffs. The team did make the Eastern Conference finals, where they would lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.

Dobson was due to become a free agent on July 1^st of that year and could not agree on a contract with the Islanders. Upon being acquired by the Canadiens, Dobson signed an eight-year, $76 million contract. But are changes coming to the Canadiens defensive corps as they look to improve their roster? The Canadiens have nearly $11 million in salary cap space going into the 2026-27 season. The free agency class is expected to be weak.

What’s Next for Dobson and the Canadiens?

Dobson was an important part of the Canadiens defense during his first season with the team. The Canadiens finished the 2025-26 regular season tied for second place in the Atlantic division with the Tampa Bay Lightning, with 106 points. The team lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in five games in the Eastern Conference finals. In 80 games played, Dobson had 12 goals and added 35 assists for a total of 47 points.

However, the Canadiens struggled on the defensive side of the puck. Giving up 256 goals, the Canadiens finished in 18^th place in the NHL by this metric. This trend continued into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Canadiens, when they gave up 56 goals in 19 games played, 14 more than the second-most goals given up by any playoff team. Additionally, the Canadiens ran into the injury bug at the wrong time when Dobson and fellow defenseman Alexandre Carrier went down with injuries during the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Arber Xhekaj and Kirby Dach are two Canadiens defensemen who are thought to be on their way out of Montreal.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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