Matt Martin Admits Islanders Have Regrets on Noah Dobson Trade: 'They'd Still Love to Have Him Here'
The Islanders traded Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft, but according to assistant GM Matt Martin, the team would have preferred to have kept him.
The New York Islanders started this off-season with a bang, as they acquired two massive first round picks and Emil Heineman in exchange for defenseman Noah Dobson, with an extension combined with the trade to Montreal.
Given that the Islanders did not want to pay him that money, the deal was certainly the right one to make, and in return, New York had the chance to draft both Kashawn Aitcheson and Viktor Eklund, an amazing haul on draft night combined with No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer.
However, moving someone that has been a New York Islander throughout his entire career was certainly never going to be an easy move to make, with former Isle and assistant GM Matt Martin addressing the move recently.
"(Mathieu) Darche has said a million times; 'Dobson's a great player, we'd love to keep him'.
But, things don't always work out that way.
I think.. ultimately they'd still love to have him here."
But, things don't always work out that way.
I think.. ultimately they'd still love to have him here."
Clearly, there was something stopping Dobson from staying on Long Island, whether it was money or something else. Knowing he turned down a larger monetary offer in Columbus (where taxes are lower as well), maybe Dobson just wanted a fresh start.
In Schaefer, the team are hoping to quickly replicate what they've now lost in Dobson, but after six seasons with the organization, tallying 50 goals and 230 points in 388 games played with the organization and so much potential, it was never going to be easy.
Ultimately, the move was made and now the Islanders need to move on with the young core that they built at the 2025 NHL Draft, and if either Aitcheson or Eklund become great NHL players, the deal could turn out to be a great one.
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