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NHL Notebook: Canadiens trade for Dobson, Leafs extend Tavares, and more
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Photo credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Tyson Cole
Jun 27, 2025, 16:34 EDT
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Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at CanucksArmy where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a Vancouver Canucks-tinted lens!
We are just over two hours away from the NHL Entry Draft kicking off, where we’re expecting to see some fireworks on the draft floor. Well, maybe not on the floor due to the decentralized draft, but over the phone, we are expecting it to be a busy night for General Managers around the league.
Some of the GMs got a little excited and got some of their work done before the trade, with a few trades and a pair of extensions handed out on draft day:

Montreal Canadiens acquire Noah Dobson

The first massive domino fell right before the NHL draft, as the New York Islanders traded defenceman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for two first-round picks (16th and 17th overall) and forward Emil Heineman.
The trade came with an extension for the right-shot defenceman, as he inked an eight-year, $76 million deal, worth a $9.5 million average annual value. There had been rumours that New York would make Dobson available after his high asking price of $10-11 million per season. According to reports, the two teams interested in acquiring Dobson were the Canadiens and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
New York’s asking price in a potential return was always a top-six forward in return. However, things changed on Friday morning, as the asking price shifted to futures. The belief surrounding the change is to move up in the draft and select Long Island native James Hagens, who has shown significant interest in wanting to play for the Islanders.
New GM Mathieu Darche only has a few hours to work with to move up to be able to select Hagens, but he now has two extra first-round picks in his arsenal to do so.

Toronto Maple Leafs extend John Tavares

The Toronto Maple Leafs have extended former Captain John Tavares to a four-year, $17.52 million contract, worth $4.38 million annually.
Tavares takes a massive hometown discount to stay a Maple Leaf. The 34-year-old signed with Toronto in the 2018 offseason, leaving the team that drafted him, the New York Islanders, high and dry after telling them he wanted to return. He signed a seven-year, $11 million AAV deal.
This still leaves the Maple Leafs with plenty of cap space (21+ million) for them to re-sign restricted free agent Matthew Knies and try to replace Mitch Marner, who’s almost certainly moving on in free agency.

Columbus Blue Jackets trade for Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood

The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired two forwards from the Colorado Avalanche in centre Charlie Coyle and winger Miles Wood. In exchange, they sent a 2027 second-round pick, a 2025 third-round pick (77th overall) and prospect Gavin Brindley.
After losing out on the Noah Dobson sweepstakes, the Blue Jackets pivoted their sights on upgrading their forward group. After the transaction, Columbus still has over $32 million of available cap space, with only Dmitri Voronkov, Ivan Provorov, and Dante Fabbro being of importance to re-sign. Another thing on the agenda for the Blue Jackets this offseason will be upgrading their goaltending, but don’t be surprised if they make a swing to acquire a big fish in free agency.
In this move, the Avalanche have cleared up $7.75 million in cap space, after having the least amount in the entire league heading into the offseason. However, this still leaves a hole at 3C for Colorado. Coyle was brought in at this past deadline, and just wasn’t really a fit. The American centre scored two goals and 13 points in 19 regular season games, but disappeared in the postseason, scoring just one goal in their seven-game opening series against the Dallas Stars.

Edmonton Oilers extend Trent Frederic

The Edmonton Oilers have extended winger Trent Frederic to a massive eight-year, $30.8 million contract, worth $3.85 million annually.
David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period gave a breakdown of the contract:
The Oilers acquired Frederic from the Boston Bruins at this past trade deadline. He was injured at the time and would only play in one regular season game before the playoff run. In the playoffs, Frederic suited up in all 22 games for the Oilers, scoring just one goal and four points, averaging just 11:24 minutes per game.
After the signing, Edmonton has just over $12 million of available cap space to re-sign Evan Bouchard, and try and find an upgrade in the crease. This after moving on from new Vancouver Canuck, Evander Kane.
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