Mathieu Darche Sets the Record Straight on His Relationship With Noah Dobson and the Trade to Montreal
Since his arrival in Montreal, Noah Dobson has generated plenty of buzz - both for his brilliant play and for his recent past with the New York Islanders.
And now Mathieu Darche, the GM behind the trade, wanted to set the record straight.
In an interview with TVA Sports, the Islanders' general manager completely denied any tension between himself and his former defenseman.
"There's no animosity at all. I have a very good relationship with his agent. I met with Noah in my office a few times this summer. My goal when I accepted the position here was to sign him. We couldn't come to an agreement, so rather than risk losing him for nothing, I decided to maximize [his value]," said the Quebec general manager during his appearance on the show JiC on Wednesday.
The Quebec native also made sure to show the respect he still has for the player:
"I don't think Noah Dobson is a defenseman who doesn't know how to defend," explained Darche. "He's an excellent hockey player. It's just that I had a certain price, that's all." - Mathieu Darche
A Departure Without Bitterness, and a Brilliant New Start in Montreal
Let's remember that on June 27, Dobson was traded to the Canadiens in exchange for Emil Heineman and two first-round picks. The Habs, for their part, immediately offered him an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million per season - an offer the Islanders weren't willing to match.
Since then, the 25-year-old defenseman has quickly established himself as a key player for the Canadiens. His pairing with Mike Matheson on the ice has been incredibly solid.
Even though he made a costly turnover last night against the Flames (a mistake that led to their only goal), Dobson remains one of the team's most consistent players since the start of the season.
I truly think his mobility, vision, and offensive presence have transformed Montreal's blue line.
In my opinion, Dobson represents exactly the kind of player you can build a long-term winning team around.
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