It appears the Islanders are set to move on from pending RFA defenseman Noah Dobson with the Blue Jackets and Canadiens as the sole contenders to acquire him, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic relayed earlier this morning that the Blues were also in the mix, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added Dobson wasn’t interested in signing a new contract with a team in the Western Conference. Marco D’Amico of RG was among the first yesterday to identify a connection between Montreal and Dobson.
Things have materialized rather quickly here. Dobson’s name was in trade speculation as far back as February, but it was stressed that they were only willing to part with him in the context of a specific trade that would presumably have netted them a forward of similar caliber in return. Days later, Dobson changed his representation in advance of starting extension negotiations with the Islanders.
Evidently, those discussions weren’t productive. Other teams – including Columbus and Montreal – appear prepared to offer him a price tag of $9.5MM per season on a long-term deal, Johnston reports. It’s unclear if the Islanders ever got to that number on an eight-year deal. It’s worth noting that the Blue Jackets and Canadiens can’t offer Dobson an eight-year contract because he wasn’t on their reserve list at the trade deadline. If he signs one, it’ll be because New York executes a sign-and-trade instead of just dealing his signing rights.
Both the Blue Jackets and Canadiens have two first-round picks in tonight’s draft. Columbus holds No. 14 and No. 20 overall, while the Canadiens hold No. 16 and No. 17. The Islanders will presumably land one, if not both of those picks, in a trade return. While it’s looking like they’ll select consensus top defense prospect Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 overall selection tonight, they have an obvious interest and need for center help.
Long Island native James Hagens, once considered the top prospect in the class but now projected to go later in the top 10, would fill that need. They could presumably use one of the picks they acquire for Dobson as part of a package to trade up and land both names. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that’s the organization’s preferred outcome here, rather than recouping roster players in return for Dobson.
Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports.
I know the cap is going up a lot in the next few years, but is Dobson really worth ~$10 million per year? Maybe he is, I honestly don’t know.
I’m a Habs fan and I think they need someone like him especially for there power play but if they paid him that Hudson will want 11+ and I’d rather have Hudson
If he doesn’t want to go West for geographic reasons, I don’t know why he’d sign with Columbus. Columbus isn’t exactly east coast
Eastern time zone. It’s not that far west
CBJ should just keep Provorov.
Provorov was good, but not amazing. He’s a completely competent 2nd pair option, but I think Dobson is an upgrade.
Reinbacher in the return would mean drafting Misa at #1 or trading down to get another 2-3 assets.
Isles would have to give up a ransom to get a team picking 3 thru 7 to move from that spot.
By the gods, please let him wind up in CBJ. Let Provo walk, re-up on Fabbro… That’s a scary D corps!