Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
We can officially confirm that Kent Hughes’ acquisition of Noah Dobson is already a very successful one for the Montreal Canadiens.
Zdeno Chara recently spoke about Noah Dobson, and Montreal is listening closely to his comments. The big Slovak praised Dobson’s talent, skating, and vision.
When it comes from a player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, it carries more weight. For the Montreal Canadiens, the timing could not be better.
Noah Dobson arrived as a major summer acquisition, and expectations are high. The Habs paid a steep price to get him, and everyone knows it.
Zdeno Chara praises the Montreal Canadiens’ acquisition of Noah Dobson
Chara already knew him as a teammate and defensive partner, which gives his words particular weight. This isn’t a random opinion, it’s coming from someone who saw him up close.
“Noah is a super talented defenceman,” Chara said ahead of his induction into the Hall of Fame last month. “He is such a skilled player and he skates well. He sees the ice really well. I think what I tell younger players, you’ve just got to always stay humble and be a student.”
– Zdeno Chara on his former teammate & defense partner Noah Dobson: Via HabsOnReddit
Kent Hughes, for his part, put his cards on the table this summer.
The announced average annual value is $9.5M, and that’s the kind of number that follows you everywhere.
Chara’s quote obviously guarantees nothing. But for a player arriving with a major role and a big contract, hearing a former partner describe him as a very talented defenseman is reassuring.
It may just be words, but in Montreal, words like that matter.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
