Latest news with #NoahDobson
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Islanders Trade Star Defenseman Noah Dobson in Draft Day Blockbuster
Islanders Trade Star Defenseman Noah Dobson in Draft Day Blockbuster originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After weeks of speculation about the long-term future of star New York islanders star defenseman Noah Dobson, fans finally have an answer. Advertisement The 25-year-old blueliner has spent his first six seasons with the Islanders, recording 50 goals and 231 points in 388 games. A perennial Norris Trophy contender, Dobson scored a career-high 70 points two seasons ago, ranking second on the Islanders in scoring. The former 12th overall pick had been the subject of trade rumors since the season ended with New York looking to trade him rather than pay him the $11 million-per-year salary he was seeking, per Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli. According to a report from NHL insider Kevin Weekes, the Islanders found a trade partner, agreeing to send Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens, who promptly signed the star defenseman to an eight-year extension worth $9.5 million per year, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (8) controls the puck in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game four of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at UBS Cruz-Imagn Images In return, the Islanders received 23-year-old forward Emil Heineman, who scored 10 goals and 18 points in 62 games last season, plus both of Montreal's first-round picks — Nos. 16 and 17 overall. Advertisement Many have speculated New York, which will likely take defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 overall pick in Friday's draft, has been looking to acquire more assets to trade back up into the top five for Boston College center James Hagens, a New York native. The Islanders could offer up a package of the Nos. 16 and 17 picks plus a top prospect like forward Cole Eiserman or 80-point center Matthew Barzal to make such a deal happen. Related: Sabres Turned Down Multiple Blockbuster Trade Offers for JJ Peterka: Report This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Blues draft winger Justin Carbonneau in first round while search for second-line center continues
ST. LOUIS — In a 24-hour span, Jordan Kyrou's name was in trade rumors, and the St. Louis Blues were in talks with the New York Islanders about defenseman Noah Dobson before he was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. Following the first round of the NHL Draft on Friday night, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong, per usual, shed light on nothing. Advertisement 'Yeah, I'm not going to get into that,' Armstrong said. Armstrong didn't want to get into details, but on a night when the only Blues news was the player they drafted No. 19 — Blainville-Boisbriand Armada right winger Justin Carbonneau — Armstrong was very open about what he's trying to do in the coming week. 'We're one of 27 teams that would love to find a second-line center — that's just the reality of it,' Armstrong said. 'I don't know if we can. You've seen since we talked last: These guys are signing with their own teams. Everyone is finding a way (to re-sign them). You have to just be prepared to react to what's available on July 1. 'But it's easier to say than do when you look at the number of teams trying to accomplish that. You saw the number of teams trying to accomplish that last year, and those centers made a lot of money and you guys can judge how it worked out for everybody. There's a shortage of players. There's a shortage of players in certain areas. It's just reality.' Not that the Blues would've been in on the Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett or the Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares, but both centers re-upped with their respective clubs Friday. In addition, the Colorado Avalanche traded center Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The options are dwindling. The Vancouver Canucks' Pius Suter is still a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Minnesota Wild's Marco Rossi is a pending restricted free agent. There could be a few unknown trade candidates, but it still appears to be a limited list. Will the Blues overpay in free agency? If not, will they make a trade? Armstrong seemed to hint at the latter on Friday. 'We're very strong on the wing right now,' he said.'If we make a trade, it will be an apple for an apple. We're going to trade someone that we may have a surplus for someone in an area that we need in the same age group. I don't see us moving a younger player for an older player for a short-term fix. That isn't where we're at in our maturation.' Advertisement Those wingers include Pavel Buchnevich, Jake Neighbours, Dylan Holloway, Zack Bolduc, Jimmy Snuggerud and, of course, Kyrou. Kyrou's full no-trade clause kicks in on July 1, and his name has been in a lot of trade speculation, including with the Buffalo Sabres before they traded right winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth, and the Islanders before they dealt Dobson. Interestingly, neither one of those situations involved the Blues getting a center, but it could all be part of the puzzle. They could have upgraded their defense with Dobson and then taken another route to acquire a center. However, when Armstrong was asked Friday if the Blues had to find one from outside the organization this offseason, he wouldn't go that far. 'We had a great final push there with our center ice the way it was,' he said. 'That (Brayden) Schenn-Holloway-Kyrou line was very good. Schenner is not getting younger, but he could do the job. If we could support him, that would be great, but he can do the job.' And now, the Blues have added another strong wing to their pipeline in Carbonneau. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder was No. 16 on the NHL's Central Scouting's list of North American skaters. He led Armada 49 goals and 92 points in 67 games this season (regular season and playoffs). His 89 regular-season points were the second-most in the QMJHL, and he was named to the league's first All-Star team. 'I compare myself to (L.A.'s) Adrian Kempe and (Philadelphia's) Travis Konecny,' Carbonneau said. 'Kempe, his size, speed and shot. I bring that. Konecny, his mindset. I'm not scared of anyone. I score goals in the paint and dirty areas. 'I play with a lot of fire. I'm not really scared of anyone. I know that the 6-8 guys are stronger probably than me and bigger, but I'm going to still try. Goals are scored in those areas. You have to find ways to get there, and I use my body and my speed to get there. It's important if you want to score goals like a goal-scorer like me.' Advertisement That's the scouting report the Blues had on Carbonneau. 'He's a goal scorer,' Armstrong said. 'He's someone that enjoys the fruits of his labors of scoring goals — someone who adds another element to the guys we have right now.' The Blues had Carbonneau in a grouping of players they thought might be available at No. 19. 'The mock drafts had him somewhere (Nos.) 14-18, so we thought that he would be a little bit of a stretch, but he might get to us,' Armstrong said. They took him despite Kitchener Rangers defensemen Cameron Reid and University of Wisconsin defenseman Logan Hensler still being on the board. 'We took three D last year,' Armstrong said. 'We'd like to smooth out our depth chart.' There was not much opportunity for the Blues to move up in the first round, and though they only have three picks in this draft, they decided against dropping back and acquiring an extra pick. 'It was a difficult year to move up because we didn't have a second, third or fourth,' Armstrong said. 'We did talk to a couple of teams (about trading down). We might've been able to go to 22 or 23 and acquire a late second or third. But you're crossing your fingers that you don't lose three guys. We didn't have to do that because at 19, there was a player that we were excited about in our block.' Carbonneau will either play NCAA hockey next season at Boston College or return to junior. 'That's one of the topics to talk with the Blues,' he said. 'Boston College is a great option for me to develop with older guys, or in Blainville. Two good options, but some talks that I'm going to do with St. Louis and decide in the next few days.' On Friday, Carbonneau was wearing an NHL jersey for the first time, becoming the first Blue to be officially presented with the new rebranded uniform. 'I always play for the logo on the front,' he said. 'To see this beautiful logo that changed a few days ago, it's a great logo. To wear it one day, it's going to be my next goal.'
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Mathieu Darche adroitly avoided sentiment in important first Islanders draft
It's just unfortunate that Jeff Gorton didn't want Noah Dobson this badly seven years ago — or even at all — when, as the Rangers general manager, he could have selected the righty defenseman at ninth overall in the first round instead of choosing Vitali Kravtsov at the 2018 draft in Dallas. But no. But, fast-forwarding to Friday in his current position as Montreal's executive VP of hockey operations, Gorton oversaw the trade for Dobson by sending the Islanders the 16th and 17th selections in the first round plus winger Emil Heineman after the defenseman agreed to an eight-year extension at a $9.5 million AAV. Advertisement The deal, completed early in the day, makes a whole lot of sense for the Canadiens all day and every day.
New York Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
With first-round haul at 2025 draft, Islanders ‘replenished' prospect pool for future
The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 NHL Draft. The New York Islanders have known better days. They haven't experienced many busier ones, though. From the hours before and then throughout Round 1 of the NHL Draft on Friday night, new general manager Mathieu Darche left no doubt he is remaking a franchise that hasn't won the Stanley Cup since 1984 and last advanced beyond the second round in 2020-21. Advertisement That's the goal: to bring the Cup back to Long Island. And if it ever happens, Day 1 of Darche's first draft might be remembered for setting the foundation. As expected, the Islanders selected touted defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick. But it was a big trade made a few hours prior that set up what Darche hopes will be looked upon as a fruitful night. Then, the Islanders dealt defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens for forward Emil Heineman and the Nos. 16 and 17 picks in the draft. With those selections, the Islanders took winger Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitchenson — the eighth- and 11th-rated prospects, respectively, in The Athletic's final draft rankings. 'High-character individuals tend to overachieve, and we've got three high-character young players,' Darche said. 'That's the type of individuals I want on the team, so it was a great night for the Islanders.' Darche said he believes the Islanders 'replenished our prospect pool' in Friday's first round — a process that he felt was started with moves by former GM Lou Lamoriello at the trade deadline. Darche is willing to move the team's remaining Day 2 draft picks if the return nets NHL players who can help the team next season and beyond. He also plans to spend in free agency. Adding significant pieces on the open market is costly and risky, perhaps no more or less than daring to move on from Dobson. Darche said his intention until this week was to re-sign Dobson. When it became apparent that wouldn't happen, he pivoted to a trade. The price for Eklund and Aitchenson was steep. Dobson, who signed a max-term deal with an $9.5 million cap hit as part of a sign-and-trade to the Canadiens, has proven himself an explosive right-shot defenseman, especially on the power play. But that's at his best, and he wasn't last season. Still, at 25, Dobson is entering the traditional prime. Therein lay the logic for trading him. Advertisement Darche said he was willing to trade the picks acquired from Montreal to add NHL talent. He also confirmed looking to move back into Round 1, conceding that center James Hagens, a Long Island native, was 'high on our list.' The Islanders were not alone among clubs angling to move into the top 10, but the price was high enough to keep all those interested GMs at bay, and the Boston Bruins ended any fairytale dreams in New York when they picked Hagens seventh overall. 'He's a good player,' Darche said of Hagens. 'That's why (the Bruins) picked him.' Instead, the Islanders picked three players in Round 1 for only the second time. The other was 1999, when they made four opening-round selections. The @NYIslanders had a busy Round 1 of the #NHLDraft, selecting Matthew Schaefer (No. 1), Victor Eklund (No. 16) and Kashawn Aitcheson (No. 17).#NHLStats: — NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) June 28, 2025 The Islanders are trying to build a Cup contender, not merely a team that competes for a playoff spot. The hope is that these first-round picks, led by Schaefer, a projected franchise defenseman, form part of the foundation for a Cup contender over the long haul. 'It's only starting,' Schaefer said from Los Angeles. 'Train and work as hard as I can so when the end of the summer comes, when the season comes, I'm ready to go play at that NHL level.' Before he became the Islanders' sixth No. 1 pick in franchise history, Schaefer's draft-eligible season was marred by significant time missed because of a broken collarbone and mononucleosis. But those setbacks, he said, are 'small' compared to a trio of losses in 2003. That year his billet mom with the Erie Otters, Emily Matson, died of apparent suicide, a few months before his mother, Jennifer Schaefer, died following a lengthy battle with breast cancer. That December, Otter's owner Jim Waters died of a heart attack. Advertisement The jacket Schaefer wore on Friday night had images of his mother sewn into the lining. When he pulled on the Islanders sweater after greeting NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on stage, Schaefer was surprised to find his mother's initials sewn inside the collar. By the time he touched a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon he hadn't expected to see on the left shoulder of the jersey, Schaefer was doing all he could to fight back tears. He gave up that fight — something his late mother never did, Schaefer said. An emotional moment as Matthew Schaefer dons the Islanders sweater for the first time 👏 — ESPN (@espn) June 27, 2025 'To do that for me — it means a lot and it goes a long way,' he said. 'A lot of people can say, 'Ah, it's just a ribbon,' but it means a lot for me. My mom's a big part of my life, and this jersey I'm going to hang onto, for sure. 'The ribbon has a lot of meaning to it.' So, too, does banking on a blueliner to help lead a franchise rebuild. Darche, who came to the Islanders after many years in the Tampa Bay Lightning front office, is well-versed in the many ways an elite defenseman can positively impact a team. He wouldn't dare compare Schaefer to the Lightning's Victor Hedman, a likely future Hockey Hall of Famer who has won a Norris Trophy and a Conn Smythe Trophy and played a pivotal role on Tampa Bay's back-to-back Cup-winning teams earlier this decade. However, the plan is to provide Schaefer with every resource necessary — including time — to grow into a foundational piece on Long Island. 'I haven't met many 17-year-olds with that maturity,' Darche said. 'But we drafted him because he's a hell of a hockey player.' — Eric Stephens contributed reporting.
CTV News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Colts star drafted by Islanders
Kashawn Aitcheson from the Barrie Colts is off to New York, as he was chosen by the Islanders with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old defenceman totalled 26 goals and 59 points in 64 games with the Colts this past season. He added six goals and 12 points during Barrie's playoff run to the OHL Eastern Conference Final this spring, including the overtime winner in Game 5 of the second round against the Kingston Frontenacs. At six-foot-one and 198 pounds, Aitcheson's all-around blend of offence, defence, speed and physicality had him ranked as the 10th-to-20th best prospect in most pre-draft rankings. The Toronto, Ont. native becomes the first Barrie Colt drafted in the top-20 since Brandt Clarke was selected by the LA Kings at 8th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. Kevin Connolly, an actor best known for his role in Entourage, announced Aitcheson's selection. The Islanders acquired the 17th overall pick earlier in the day in a trade that sent defenceman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens.
