Mentioned among Montreal’s names as a potential NHL depth add; given his role elsewhere, his comparator status shapes how teams value defensive depth and offensive ceilings in roster decisions.

Dobson enters as a focal point of a potential retool, cited as part of a strategic move to inject a right-shot puck mover into Montreal’s defense. His presence is framed as a short-term optimization that could accelerate the Canadiens’ transition from rebuild to relevance.

Dobson’s inclusion underscores the article’s depth talk, noting veterans and young defensemen as part of the Canadiens’ back-end picture. A hypothetical acquisition of a center could shift the balance of ice time and minutes across the defensive corps.

Dobson is used as a contract comp benchmark; Hutson’s extension could land in a similar ballpark if pace holds, with cap growth supporting a higher ceiling. The comparison anchors the negotiation around term and AAV expectations amid a rising cap.

Dobson is cited as a potential current top-pair RD in a hypothetical Canucks-Ducks swap. Although value debates center on Reinbacher and other assets, Dobson represents the kind of blue-line ceiling that would alter Anaheim’s demand for a top-pair right-shot defenseman and reshape the defense-offense balance for any deal.