Jakub Dobes didn’t just make a young fan’s day last Wednesday - he handed over a memory that will stick for a long time.
The Montreal Canadiens goaltender was back in Brossard working out with still-interim goaltending coach Marco Marciano after spending some time in St-Louis at his summer home. Dobes had no idea he had company. Marciano had brought along his cousin, Nadia Bucci, and her son, Massimo, to watch the session.
Bucci’s son is on the autism spectrum, and Dobes is his favorite player. Before they arrived, Bucci gave Marciano Massimo’s Dobes jersey so it could be signed and inscribed.
After practice, Marciano returned with more than just the autographed sweater. Dobes had also signed the stick he used during the session and sent that along too.
The gift clearly hit home. Massimo was thrilled, and his mother was deeply moved by the gesture.
She later contacted Dobes on Instagram to thank him, and he answered that he was happy to help. That lines up with the kind of person Dobes has shown himself to be throughout the past season: emotional, engaged, and clearly affected by stories like this one.
Canadiens fans have seen this kind of kindness before from a Montreal goaltender. In February 2019, Carey Price drew attention for meeting 11-year-old Anderson Whitehead, who had lost his mother to cancer. Price gave him signed items, tickets to see the Habs, and a long hug that seemed to mean everything to the boy as his hero reassured him things would be okay.
On the ice, Dobes now has a very different kind of spotlight. After his strong playoff performance, he enters this season installed as the clear number one, and he already has a contract extension in place that begins next season. That means his focus can stay right where he wants it: on his game.
There’s also a good chance Marciano’s temporary tag disappears soon. His work with the Canadiens’ goalies last season changed the picture in a big way, and all signs point to Kent Hughes and company keeping him around full time.
Behind Dobes, the backup picture could still shift before training camp. Unless Samuel Montembeault is moved, the likely battle is between Montembeault and Jacob Fowler for the No. 2 job. Fowler could be sent back to the AHL, though that might not be the best path for his development.
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