Noah Dobson
Noah Dobson is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He was selected in the first round, 12th overall, by the New York Islanders in the 2018 NHL entry draft.
Playing career
Early years
Growing up in western Prince Edward Island, Dobson began skating at age four. Showing early promise as an athlete, he was given permission by Hockey PEI, the governing body of ice hockey in the province, to enroll in organized hockey at a younger age than his peers and consistently played in older age groups. As member of the PEI Rocket, he participated in the 2012 iteration of the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament; his team became the first Prince Edward Island based entrant to win the event, and Dobson for his part was named as the best defenceman of the tournament. In 2014, he left home to attend Bishop's College School in Lennoxville, Quebec. Thereafter, Dobson considered moving to Toronto and joining the Don Mills Flyers of the Greater [Toronto Hockey League], but was ultimately recruited to EC [Red Bull Salzburg] overseas in Austria. He would spend a single season abroad, during which time he lived with former NHL player Brian Savage, whose son Redmond also played at the academy.Junior
Considered one of the top players at his position, Dobson was drafted in the first round, sixth overall, by the Acadie–Bathurst Titan at the 2016 Quebec [Major Junior Hockey League] draft. Following his second year of major junior in 2017–18, Dobson was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team after finishing tied for second place among defenceman for points with 69. For his efforts, he would earn nomination for the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the league's best defencemen as well as the Michael Bossy Trophy and Kevin Lowe Trophy respectively.In June 2018, Dobson was selected 12th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2018 NHL entry draft. Two months later, the Islanders signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Entering play for the 2018–19 season, Dobson was selected as team captain for the Titan. Having scored 16 points in 28 games for the rebuilding franchise, Dobson was subsequently traded to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies during the annual 2019 World [Junior Ice Hockey Championships|World Junior Championships] in January 2019. With the Huskies, Dobson won his second consecutive Memorial Cup.
Professional
Officially earning a roster spot with the Islanders ahead of the 2019–20 season, Dobson's NHL debut came versus the Edmonton Oilers on October 8, 2019, where he recorded his first NHL point, a primary assist on a goal by Matt Martin. On January 14, 2020, in just his 18th career game, Dobson scored his first NHL goal against Calvin Pickard of the Detroit Red Wings.During the 2021–22 season, Dobson recorded 51 points through 80 games played. That off-season, he would agree to a three-year extension with the team. In April 2024, Dobson became the second defenceman in franchise history to record at least 60 assists in a single season. Collectively, he finished the 2023–24 campaign with 70 points, becoming the first Islanders defenceman to reach this plateau since Denis Potvin in 1983–84.
On June 27, 2025, Dobson was traded by the Islanders to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Emil Heineman and two first round picks in the 2025 NHL entry draft. Immediately following the transaction, he was signed to an eight-year contract extension worth $9.5 million annually with the Canadiens.
International play
Internationally, Dobson first represented Hockey Canada as part of team Canada Red at the 2016 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where his team ultimately finished in sixth place. The following year, he won a gold medal as part of the Canada men's national under-18 [ice hockey team|national under-18 team] at the 2017 [Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament|Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament]. Dobson then participated with the Canada men's national [junior ice hockey team|national junior team] at the 2019 [World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|2019 World Junior Championships] but failed to secure a podium finish following an overtime loss in his country's quarterfinals matchup against Finland. During the contest, Dobson's stick infamously broke on an attempted one-timer prior to Finnish defenceman Toni Utunen scoring the game-winning goal moments later.In May 2025, Dobson made his national senior team debut at the annual IIHF World Championship.
Personal life
Dobson was born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, to parents Andrew and Jenny originally from Bathurst, New Brunswick. He has one sibling, a sister named Elly.In July 2024, Dobson got engaged to American sports reporter Alexa Serowik. The couple married at the Rosecliff Mansion located in Newport, Rhode Island on Canada Day a year later.