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.&nbsp;

But, fast-forwarding to Friday in his current position as Montreal’s executive VP of hockey operations, Gorton oversaw the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/27/sports/islanders-trade-noah-dobson-to-canadiens-in-pre-draft-shakeup/#:~:text=Dobson%20was%20traded%20ahead%20of,Emil%20Heineman%2C%20The%20Post%20confirmed.">trade for Dobson</a> 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.&nbsp;

The deal, completed early in the day, makes a whole lot of sense for the Canadiens all day and every day.&nbsp;

The selection of Schaefer turned this into a watershed day for the franchise.{ai:summary}<p>Jeff Gorton, now Montreal's executive VP of hockey operations, traded for defenseman Noah Dobson from the Islanders, sending the 16th and 17th overall picks and winger Emil Heineman. Dobson signed an eight-year extension worth $9.5 million AAV, benefiting the Canadiens significantly.</p><p>This move highlights a missed opportunity for Gorton when he was with the Rangers, as he could have drafted Dobson instead of Vitali Kravtsov in 2018. #sports</p>

Mathieu Darche adroitly avoided sentiment in important first Islanders draft

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