NY Islanders GM Matheiu Darche did well in Noah Dobson trade despite obstacles

When the New York Islanders traded defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens before the 2025 NHL Draft, many wondered whether the team had maximized value for a player who held significant leverage. However, in navigating Dobson’s looming contract demands and preferred destinations, new GM Mathieu Darche managed to strike a deal that could be a long-term win under challenging circumstances.

Dobson, a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights and one year from unrestricted free agency, was seeking a contract worth upwards of $10–11 million annually, well above what the Islanders were comfortable paying. Making matters more complicated, Dobson’s camp made it clear that only a handful of teams in the Eastern Conference were on his list and financially positioned to meet that price. That narrowed Darche’s trade options considerably.

Those obstacles are best understood when you realize that Columbus reportedly was willing to trade their own RFA, winger Dmitri Voronkov,a 24-year-old that scored 23 goals lasts seaosn, but Dobson's camp preferred to work out a contract with the Canadiens.

And yet, Darche was still able to deliver.

In return for Dobson, the Islanders secured two first-round picks (Nos. 16 and 17) and forward Emil Heineman, a promising 23-year-old winger, who the Islanders insisted be in the deal, who can compete for a bottom-six role immediately. Despite the tight trade window, Darche extracted draft capital and a roster-ready player, building both future potential and present flexibility.

Darche’s insistence on including Heineman in the deal showed that he wasn’t settling for a purely future-focused return. He kept the team competitive while acquiring valuable draft assets, which ultimately led to the selection of forward Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson—two high-upside prospects who were ranked inside the Top-10 by many.

It’s easy to focus on the loss of a 70-point defenseman, but Dobson’s contract and leverage put the Islanders in a tough spot. Darche worked around it with patience and precision, landing a return that both fills needs and opens doors. For a GM in his first draft with the franchise, it was a smart, composed move that sets the tone for a new era on Long Island.