Darche had a twelve minute press conference after midnight where he explained Dobson trade/other decisions here.Hear from GM and EVP Mathieu Darche after Round 1 of the NHL Draft! #Isles | @UBS
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 28, 2025
Nothing against the kids they drafted, good prospects in a weak draft. You don't trade a 70 point skating defender at age 25 for a bottom six player who was traded twice already. It's that bad a decision, they had a year to move Dobson, he's an RFA who could elect arbitration. They did not have a scoring defender like that since Potvin. Clearly Montreal loved him, and fleeced Darche. I want Nick Suzuki in a Dobson trade, not the bottom six forward.
It feels like cost cutting. Darche, keeping Roy, and not paying another coach who clearly struggled under Roy both seasons. It's a disappointing day, you keep Dobson, and not give him a contract extension now. No indication he wanted out or was unhappy here. You get rid of ping pong, never sign Palmieri to lose Dobson for this. Just horrific, and it's Kvasha trade revisited. Dobson is 25, you never trade that offensive potential at his age, and keep the expensive coach they brought back who deserved a pink slip for the teams record. Lane Lambert by far did better with Dobson.
Clearly Darche wanted to keep a coach with term on his contract who had a poor season vs getting a better coach to help Dobson improve his defensive game, and they rolled out everyone they should be looking to trade at the draft party, even Pulock. Would have been smarter to get Duclair out with the fans.
Darche had time, he decided not to use more if it on a RFA they could have waited until next March to re-sign. Dobson would have had a prove-it year, and New York likely gets a much better return at the trade deadline. It's a very poor decision, and they just made the team that beat them out for the 8th seed stronger.
Dobson had his say.
