Proof that the Canadiens came out on top in the Noah Dobson trade

Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Proof that the Canadiens came out on top in the Noah Dobson trade
Credit: Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Last summer, Kent Hughes made some moves.

As you probably know, he acquired Noah Dobson from the Islanders. He also offered him a contract worth $9.5 million per season through 2033.

In return, Emil Heineman and two first-round picks (16th and 17th in 2025) made their way to Long Island.

Looking back a year later, we can conclude that the Canadiens came out ahead in the trade. After all, Dobson has transformed the team, and Alexander Zharovsky is a promising prospect.

What's the connection to Zharovsky? The Canadiens managed to draft him (which is what they wanted to do) even though they traded away their two mid-first-round picks.

Even better? Corey Pronman (The Athletic) ranked the 2025 draft class, and Zharovsky holds his own compared to the two players the Islanders drafted with the picks provided by the Canadiens.

Kashawn Aitcheson (a defenseman) moved up from 17th to 8th, but Zharovsky jumped from 34th to 11th.

No other player drafted outside the first round is ranked as high as Zharovsky… and both men (Aitcheson and Zharovsky) are in the same category: mid-draft picks near the top of their class.

Victor Eklund (from 16th to 27th) is a forward ranked relatively far behind the Canadiens' Russian prospect. He also trails Daniil Prokhorov, who was drafted by the Islanders in the second round.

Note: I'm not saying the Islanders necessarily got the short end of the stick in all this. It's possible for two teams to come out ahead in a trade… but when you acquire prospects, you don't know for sure right away.

That said, as far as the Habs are concerned, we can all agree that the Dobson trade was clearly worth it. Emil Heineman and the prospects they gave up were worth it, especially when analyzing the draft with a year's hindsight.

Of course, that could change in the coming years when it comes to evaluating prospects… but Dobson will undoubtedly continue to be a reliable presence.

It's worth noting that Bryce Pickford (from 81st to 37th), Alexis Cournoyer (from 145th to 48th), and Carlos Handel (from 177th to 58th)—all drafted by the Habs—are also prospects ranked in the top 80 by the controversial analyst from The Athletic.


In a nutshell

– The American Conference is weak, largely because of what's happening in the West.

– The Canadiens' division will be strong this season.

– Interesting.

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