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Ryan Snow: Noah Dobson Baby! |
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Noah Dobson Baby!
by Ryan Snow
Hey everyone! Sorry for the late post, it was a hectic week!
Yesterday the Habs made a great deal and acquired Noah Dobson in exchange for Emil Heineman and the 16th and 17th overall selections in the draft. Not to mention, he signed an 8 year deal worth 76 million for an average of 9.5 per.
I love this deal. The Habs needed a right shot defenseman and they got one of the best ones available. I would have included his name on my list in my prior article on which right D the Habs should target, but I really did not think the Islanders were going to let him go. Dobson skates really well and makes smart passes to push the offence. I really like this player, and I find that the Habs have solidified their D core for years to come. This will also give St-Louis two lethal powerplay units, like we saw with the Panthers when they won the Cup. A move like this makes sure the Habs will be playoff competitive for the foreseeable future, And I hope it will do a lot to attract UFAS to sign with Montreal.
Hughes has done a masterful job constructing this D-core with the draft and trades, while keeping the CAP at a reasonable level with proactive signings like Ghule, Suzuki, Cole and Slav. I was immediately impressed with Hughes’s demeanor when he was hired, and this has transcended with how he has built this team. I love it.
Now the one thing that makes me sad is losing Heineman. I really loved how he plays. He’s engaged, he hits, he has an underrated shot and overall he reads the play well. And he’s only 23.
Don’t get me wrong, the Habs made the right move here, but I have a place in my heart for NHL’s who play like Heineman (like Magnus Arvidson, Ryan Smyth, Saku Koivu)
When he was injured, I found his absence was noticeable and Monrreal struggled a bit with him out of the lineup. For a time, the line of Heineman-Evans-Armia were wreaking havoc out there and did a lot to propel Montreal to a playoff spot. But, at the end of the day you need to give up quality to gain quality and this is what Hughes did here. Furthermore, it opens up a roster spot for Beck, Kapaenen or Roy and this was sorely needed as they need NHL ice time to develop .
I hope Heineman continues to thrive and has a great career in New York, I have no doubt that he will. Thanks for all the hard work!
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