LOS ANGELES — For the better part of a year, the Noah Dobson contract has hung over the Islanders as a problem that must be solved.
It turned out, the solution was to get rid of Noah Dobson.
Dobson was traded ahead of Friday's first round of the draft to Montreal for a package including the 16th and 17th picks along with Swedish fourth-liner Emil Heineman , The Post confirmed.
Columbus was also heavily involved in discussions but the Islanders chose the package from the Canadiens over that from the Blue Jackets .
As part of the deal, Dobson reportedly signed an eight-year extension with Montreal at $9.5 million annually.
"Listen, we tried to sign Noah, and we couldn't agree on a contract," general manager Mathieu Darche said on a Zoom call. "It happens in sports. The whole negotiation was very amicable."
Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (8) looks to shoot against the Blue Jackets during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
While the league waited to see if the Islanders would use the 16th and 17th picks in a package to move up and select Long Island native James Hagens, that did not come to fruition.
Darche confirmed the Islanders attempted to move up to draft Hagens, but nothing materialized before the Bruins ultimately took him at No. 7.
The Islanders ended up taking Swedish wing Victor Eklund with the 16th pick and OHL defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson with the 17th, walking away from the night with two prospects widely rated in the top 10 of the draft, in addition to Matthew Schaefer, who was drafted first overall .
"We did try to trade up at one point, a couple times, during the first round. We couldn't get a deal done," Darche said. "Sometimes, everything happens for a reason. 'Cause the guys that we drafted at 16 and 17, we had them much higher on our list and we're beyond excited they were still available at those spots."
While that represents a massive boost to their prospect pipeline, next season's roster looks significantly worse now than it did 24 hours prior without Dobson.
Matthew Schaefer speaks with the media during the National Hockey League Top Prospects Media Availability at the JW Marriott LA Live on June 26, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield are the only two right-handed defensemen in the organization with NHL experience, though Adam Boqvist is capable of playing his off side.
Tony DeAngelo , whose path to returning to Long Island appeared closed off with Dobson in the fold, now looks like someone the Islanders could try to use as a low-cost option to try to replicate the offense-first role Dobson filled.
Free agency is also an option for the Islanders to try to get a right-handed defenseman.
Without needing to pay Dobson, Darche will have more flexibility to spend, but needs to get contracts done with restricted free agents Jean-Gabriel Pageau , Alexander Romanov and Max Tsyplakov.
The Dobson trade came after a week in which the lack of progress in contract negotiations spilled into the public eye, with Darche ultimately uncomfortable going into territory that was in line with what the league's top defensemen have been paid under the old salary cap regime.
Noah Dobson #8 of the New York Islanders skates with the puck as Kirill Marchenko #86 of the Columbus Blue Jackets defends during the third period of a game at Nationwide Arena on April 17, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. NHLI via Getty Images
In a Zoom call with media Friday night, Dobson described it as a mutual decision between him and the Islanders to seek a trade after negotiations on a deal went nowhere.
"Once conversations started with my representation, we tried to work on finding a deal and staying on Long Island," Dobson said. "That was always the goal at the start. Unable to find any ground on that. At some point, we just felt it best to go in different directions and maybe look for a trade.
"I got nothing but great things to say about the Islanders organization and my time there and wish them nothing but the best moving forward. But at the end of the day, things like this happen."
Even without Hagens, though, the Islanders are walking away from the draft with their pipeline significantly improved.
Scouting reports peg Aitcheson as a heavy-hitting defenseman with a strong one-tier, and he averaged nearly a point-per-game in the OHL last season.
"It's a super surreal moment," Aitcheson said of being drafted. "It's unbelievable. I can't believe it happened. Obviously, picked by such a great organization."
Eklund, who is set to return to Djugardens IF in the SHL next season, is seen as a physical forechecker despite not having much size, and can contribute offensively as well.
"It's pretty emotional," Eklund said. "I feel like this has been a dream ever since I was young."
