The Canadiens have moved quickly to secure another piece of their young core, agreeing Thursday to a three-year extension with goaltender Jakub Dobeš.
The deal is worth just under $5.4 million per season, with an official annual value of $5,357,575. Dobeš, 25, had one year remaining on his current contract and was on track to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer.
This extension comes on the heels of a breakout rookie season that put Dobeš squarely in the spotlight. He started all 19 games of Montreal’s unexpected march to the Eastern Conference final and finished as the playoff leader among goaltenders in goals saved above expected, posting 13.3, according to Moneypuck.
By the time the trade deadline rolled around, Dobeš had taken over as the Canadiens’ clear No. 1 in net. Sam Montembeault slid to No. 3 on the depth chart, while prospect Jacob Fowler was brought up to serve as the backup.
From March 7 through the end of the regular season, Dobeš went 10-4-0 with a .924 save percentage. Over that stretch, only Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning had more wins, and Dobeš ranked fifth in save percentage among goalies who played at least eight games.
For the full season, Dobeš finished 29-10-4 with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. He also placed eighth in goals saved above expected, according to Moneypuck, and came in fourth in Calder Trophy voting for NHL rookie of the year.
In Other News...
Three Current Canadiens Just Landed In A Familiar Summer Spotlight
Montreals summer hockey scene is about to get a familiar dose of NHL talent again, with the Living Sisu three-on-three league returning to the city beginning July 6-7 and rolling on with weekly games on Mondays and Tuesdays. The setup has become an annual bit of offseason theater in Montreal, mixing mens and womens games with a roster of pros who keep the rink conversation going long after the playoffs are over.
For Canadiens fans, the draw is obvious: there will be current team regulars in the mix, even as some of the other usual faces sit this one out. The event also carries a charitable edge, with proceeds helping the Pancreatic Cancer North America Foundation, which gives the summer showcase a little more meaning than the average pickup-skating circuit. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Development Camp Just Revealed More Than A Few Standouts
The Canadiens development camp wrapped with a scrimmage that offered a useful glimpse of the organizations next wave, and several names made their presence felt. Alexander Zharovsky, L.J. Mooney, Michael Hage, Logan Sawyer and Hayden Paupanekis all stood out in the session, giving Montreal a reminder of how much talent is bubbling up beyond the NHL roster.
Hage and Sawyer were especially noticeable with a pair of goals each, the kind of showing that tends to linger after camp ends and the pace shifts back to offseason work. Paupanekis also drew attention off the ice with his next step now set, while the Canadiens leave camp having gotten a clearer read on which prospects are ready to push the conversation forward. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Blue Line Buzz Just Took A Turn Fans Feared
The Canadiens have already shown how they want to approach their next move, keeping an eye on help up front without rushing into a commitment that could box them in later. Montreal had interest in Mason Marchment, but the hesitation to go long-term says plenty about where the club is headed: looking for real upgrades, yet still trying to protect its flexibility while the roster keeps taking shape.
Across the league, the rumor mill is spinning with familiar deadline and summer chatter, from Carolinas search for defense help to the Avalanches cap maneuvering and talks involving high-profile names. For Montreal, the bigger takeaway is that the market may end up doing more of the heavy lifting than free agency, and that is the lane the Canadiens appear most comfortable driving in as they sort out what comes next. [Read more 🡒]