Trade defender Logan Mailloux is just the first domino to fall in the Montreal Canadiens, after they traded and signed Noah Dobson, reaching a $76 million contract eight years before the NHL entry draft. By gaining a defender with a right-wing companion, Habs effectively has no more room to be a pure offensive defender like Merlocks, especially on that side. Dobson scored 70 points with the New York Islanders in 2023-24 and he has proven himself that all of this should be respected by Mailloux, being able to do everything the latter can do, and more.
So it’s logical for Canadians to trade Mailloux in the form of Zachary Bolduc to replace six out of six, especially Emil Heineman’s other way in Dobson Trade went. However, the restructuring is obviously far from being completed, and Dobson’s deal has far-reaching implications. Here are the expected top five:
5. David Reinbacher consolidates future locations
Another right-handed defensive player, David Reinbacher (finally) ranked fifth in fifth place, because compared to Mailloux’s No. 31 two years ago, it’s quite clear that Canadais surpassed Mailloux after he drafted him (by chance) in 2023 (coincidentally). Of course, the draft’s position does not mean everything. It’s entirely possible for Mailloux to outperform him by further development, especially his defensive game. However, the general consensus is Mailloux, who, despite his acclaim from the American Hockey League for his offensive skills, is not ready yet, at least not with the Canadians to play the NHL with the Canadians, a fairly defined Canadians, including Reinbacher.
The only thing that puts Mailloux ahead of Reinbacher is his exemption status, as he will only be exempt in 2026.
That’s right, Reinbacher did suffer a serious knee injury in the 2024 preseason, playing only 10 games against the Laval Rocket in 2024-25. If Reinbacher’s recovery is stagnant, Mailloux will serve as a theoretical insurance policy. However, in those games, he still scored 5 points. In the same match, Mailloux scored 7 times (33 points in 63 matches). So the difference in their production is not so obvious (at least in the AHL), that the Canadians gave up on Reinbacher’s all-around game for Mailloux’s pure offensive abilities, and there’s really only one regular roster that can offer them. Now, even in 2026-27 alone, Reinabacher is more likely to accept it.
4. Prices for Lane Hutson are clearer
Reinbacher may pair with Calder Memorial Trophy-Winner Lane Hutson on the left, at least once the former is promoted. Head coach Martin St. Louis is unlikely to pair 66-point score Hutson with similar offensively aware Dobson as you logically pair Dobson with a defensively aware presence like Kaiden Guhle to spread the offense as much as possible. And, while Hutson’s defense isn’t as weak as you might believe, you also want to put him in a position where he can do what he does best, and that’s in a strait without having to worry about covering up someone like Dobson. That’s Renbach.
It is worth noting that Hutson is developing in the first future defender for the Canadians, with only veteran Mike Matheson getting more ice time than him last season (25:05 vs.22:44). Dobson got on the match with the Islanders at 23:16. It’s obvious that Dobson will be the team’s top defensive player on the right. Whether Hutson is going to play on his natural left or stay on the right, Habs has dropped to his second pairing in past playoffs. After his historical season, this still doesn’t deviate from his skills and doesn’t make him more of a lockdown as an elite talent, where he tied the single-season assist record for rookie defenders.
Hutson entered the final season of entry-level contracts and was eligible to sign the extension as of July 1. So at least in his mind, you have to believe that his eyes are wide open because his students see Dobson’s new contract news, so his students will be wide open. He may not have Dobson’s 6-foot-4 and weighs 194 pounds (5-foot-9 ft, 162 pounds), but he’s more of a complete defender. With this fact in mind, Canadians have signed Nick Suzuki (eight years, $63 million), Cole Caufield (eight years, $62.8 million) and Juraj Slafkovsky (eight years, $600.8 million) to make a wealthy deal with their entry-level deal, and Hutson will get one. It’s just a question of when and Dobson’s, arguably the only comparable contract, even if it’s his third overall.
Related: Comparison of Lane Hutson’s contract extensions
Given that the latter has been four years, Hutson may become more valuable than Dobson, and his curve is already over 21 years old. This could reduce Dobson to a second pairing, or drop the Canadians two top pairings. Whichever way you look, Hutson is the number one on paper. He will put his name on paper as soon as possible and get paid like Dobson.
3. MikeMatheson becomes more redundant
During the media supply after the first day of free agents, general manager Kent Hughes talked about the fact that experienced leader Dobson has entered the league for six seasons. He also talked about what defensive Mike Matheson means to the team, ranked number one in ice time and had a year left in the trade before he became an unrestricted free agent. Like Hutson, he qualifies for signing an extension on July 1.
Matheson is also the replacement captain and the only Canadian defender over 30. Therefore, his experienced leadership is also important. To make Hughes frame his description of Dobson in this way, even though Canadians reportedly were in talks with the re-signation of Matheson, he wanted to stay.
Mike Matheson APassé Environe une Heure et al. Demie Avec Gorton et Hughes Aujourd’huià Buffalo. il n ne s’agissait pas denégociationscomme tel, mais matheson escusensible nouveau unnouveau contrast le 1er juillet et il aimerait en venir en venir – une nouvelle nouvelle nouvelle antente avec le canadien.
— Marc Antoine Godin (@magodin) June 4, 2025
With Hutson becoming a unit, Matheson’s work cut halved from a career-high 62 points in 2023-24 to 31 points. Dobson’s arrival will actually only exacerbate this situation. And, based on how everyone now knows that he can deploy his plum in his power play, Matheson can still sign big deals elsewhere on July 1 next year. The Canadian poop and re-signed him just makes no sense.
2. Patrik Laine may not be long
More importantly, for Matheson, it doesn’t make any sense to resign. Even if the salary cap gets bigger, it’s hard to imagine a) enough space to re-sign Matheson for market value and b) he resigned in his early 30s when he was just starting to establish himself as a 60x elite cap of the elite level of a small workout, smooth defender. Even if Patrik Laine is no longer considered a superstar talent, that’s the same.
It’s easy to forget that Laine’s $8.7 million blocking percentage was the highest before Dobson reached. And, despite not having his team-leading 15 strong game goals (20 in total) games and not getting the playoffs in 52 games, his five-on-five games obviously have a lot to be desired, but Habs means that even though he will be unrestricted free agents (2026), it will be difficult to re-sign for him even at the 28-year-old effect, even a big effect, it is good, and not working hard yet, and it is upset and unhappy.
Ryan’s final blocking percentage may actually drop. But even in this case, can Canadians promise him to see what Hutson ends up with a massive expansion and other new deals they have to sign? Also on defense, Alber Xhekaj (Arber Xhekaj) hopes to take the next step within the contract year. In the front, hopefully, Kirby Dach retaliated from injury and eventually established himself as a second-tier center, which would also give him a pay raise next summer. Habs also acquired Bolduc in the Mailloux trade for some reason. They might make him the 19 goals he just became a rookie goal. They will become RFA in 2026.
But, what is most important? Ivan Demidov arrived in North America earlier than expected and effectively pushed Laine to another wing to make room. Based on the reconnaissance report that he has a talent of more than 100 points, he can completely drive Ryan out of the lineup. He must be a priority. He will also make it rich before becoming a restricted free agent in 2027.
1. The universal card may not be enough
Of course, after last season (in the same match with Reinbacher) suffers (and from the same match) and whether Laine will become more fluid after the rest of the whole time. Maybe the Canadian does choose to make room in some way, but you might be operating under the assumption that he and Matheson are both after the season.
However, this does not necessarily mean that they will be traded. The team has been growing year-on-year since finishing the game in its last place in 2022. No one really wants them to make the playoffs and the party line goes into last season, and that’s the goal is just to get them all together throughout the game.
If the Canadians don’t do it, the playoff spot could be a goal in 2025-26. Now they have done that, to some extent, they are victims of their own success. Expectations have been improved, especially with Dobson’s acquisition.
At this point, the Canadians are not necessarily a Stanley Cup contender, but they should at least be regarded as a realistic playoff team. Playoff teams are known for trading, staying in unrestricted free agents, like the past year, like Laine and Matheson, even if their abilities are reduced relative to the past. As suggested earlier, suddenly, you’re looking for a defender who might actually play 62 points in Matheson in the third pairing just because of lack of space. Dobson is why it does this.
Of course, Canadians may be considering building on a universal card for 2025-26 anyway. So Dobson can’t get all the credibility for that, but Hughes (and the overall manager of the Canadians management) can attract him and build a team ready to make a lot of noise next season (and the playoffs). They not only earned top defensive players who recently scored 70 points. They earned a top-level defensive player who recently scored 70 points with just 25 points, the best in his career. He joins one of the youngest teams ever and will get better in the next few seasons. Dobson may not be the only reason, but he is a big reason.
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