The New York Islanders have traded defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in a sign-and-trade deal, according to ESPN sources. The move could impact the NHL draft, as the Islanders acquired forward Emil Heineman and two first-round picks from Montreal.
Noah Dobson, 25, had a down year with the Islanders last season, scoring 39 points in 71 games, but will now join a rebuilding Canadiens team that returned to the playoffs this season. The trade adds Dobson’s eight-year, $76 million contract to Montreal’s roster.
Emil Heineman, 23, has played for Montreal since being traded there from the Calgary Flames last year. He joins Lane Hutson in the Canadiens’ defense corps and will be reunited with his former team, which acquired him as part of a trade package for Sam Bennett earlier this month.
The Islanders now own the first overall pick in Friday’s draft, with Matthew Schaefer expected to be selected first. The team was looking to add another high draft choice to potentially select Long Island native James Hagens, who is projected to go sixth overall in ESPN’s latest mock draft.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/45597603/source-montreal-deals-first-rounders-islanders-noah-dobson