Improving Dobson’s Value To The Canadiens
There’s no doubt Montreal Canadiens defenceman Noah Dobson has proven he can play under the heightened level of pressure and intensity that emanates from the Bell Centre.
While he hasn’t returned to the same form that saw him put together a 70-point season in 2023-24, Dobson’s first season with the Canadiens was a step in the right direction.
(Editor’s Note: This is an article written by special contributor Tyler Major- McNicol. You can follow him on X by clicking here.)
The 26-year-old scored 12 goals and 35 assists in 80 games in 2025-26, giving the Habs ample insight as to what their long-term investment in the defenceman could bring to the table for the franchise.
With that in mind, registering 47 points was a great way to introduce himself to Martin St. Louis’s club, but it was not the ceiling Canadiens management envisioned when it made Dobson the highest-paid defenceman on the roster.
His extension carries a $9.5M annual average value (AAV), placing him in a tie for the seventh-highest salary cap hit among all defencemen.
If we’re basing his value solely on production, you could argue that he’s a negative impact player for the Canadiens. While some stars, such as Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson, and Cole Caufield, bring fantastic value despite their rich contracts, the same cannot be said for Dobson.
However, we also have to acknowledge that his first season with the Canadiens was certainly a learning experience, as he was dealing with new teammates, new strategies, a new rink, an entirely different approach from the coaching staff, and a bevy of different factors that change once a player is traded to a new organization.
Noah Dobson Value Beyond Points
It’s easy to get lost in the points, but deeper analysis reveals that Dobson’s impact goes beyond the scoresheet.
The former New York Islanders defenceman averaged 22:29 per night last season, a testament to how critical he is to the Canadiens’ defensive corps. It’s also important to remember he reinforced the right side of the blue line, an area of weakness for the Habs. Without Dobson in the mix, the only right-handed defenceman available to St-Louis would have been Alexandre Carrier, as defensive specialist David Savard retired after the 2024-25 season.
The heavy workload speaks to the trust Montreal has in Dobson, but it’s fair to suggest he’s yet to completely find his rhythm with the Habs. His offensive production was respectable, but he will need to become more consistent at even strength if he is going to live up to his massive price tag.
One area where Dobson can take another step is in his five-on-five play. While Dobson was on the ice, the Canadiens only controlled 47% of the expected goal share, far below what is expected from a top pairing defenceman.
While the statistic alone doesn’t paint the full picture of Dobson’s defensive game, it does propose Montreal can benefit from him becoming a stronger player at even strength. It’s also worth reviewing whether the Dobson—Mike Matheson pairing should be retired, as the two produced subpar numbers for the majority of the season.
However, even though Dobson’s expected goal share may point to an area of desperate need for improvements, his deployment by the Canadiens paints a vivid picture of how the club views him.
That trust comes with responsibility, and Dobson will need to embrace it heading into his second season with the Canadiens.
With Lane Hutson establishing himself as the club’s offensive catalyst on the backend, Dobson’s role is equally important, but the Canadiens don’t need him to duplicate what Hutson does. Besides, few defencemen can match Hutson’s impact.
Rather, the Canadiens need him to bring value in how he complements Hutson.
His quick outlet passes are crucial, as is his ability to drive the play down low whenever the opportunity arises. Once his comfortability improves, the Canadiens will look to him to take on an every bigger role in those essential responsibilities.
Between Dobson’s 188 shot blocks and 47 points, he has proven that he isn’t a one-dimensional defenceman. If he continues carrying the heavy workload while growing alongside Montreal’s young core, he can become the essential piece the Canadiens envisioned when they signed him an eight-year contract.
Noah Dobson 5v5 statistics via Natural Stat Trick.
