Report Confirms Leafs' Mitch Marner Blocked Trade to the Islanders Involving Noah Dobson

As the NHL offseason ramps up on NHL Entry Draft weekend, several trades have already happened, reshaping rosters across the league.

One of the biggest moves to date saw the New York Islanders trade stud defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward Emil Heineman and the 16th and 17th overall picks in the 2025 draft.

As a part of the deal, Dobson signed a massive eight-year extension worth $9.5 million per season, committing to the Canadiens for the rest of his prime and into his early 30's.

However, in a surprising twist, it's now been revealed that Dobson was nearly a Toronto Maple Leaf. According to a report from Islanders beat reporter Arthur Staple, Lou Lamoriello had previously offered Noah Dobson to the Leafs as part of a trade package for Mitch Marner before last season's trade deadline.

As per Arthur Staple on X:

Dobson, a highly effective two-way defenseman, logged top minutes in all situations for the Islanders. Although his point totals dropped from a breakout 70-point season in 2023-24 to 39 points this past year, his star status has remained intact and he should help propel a rising Habs team forward.

Meanwhile, Mitch Marner is reportedly heading to free agency and has made it clear that he very likely won't be returning to Toronto, leaving the team with nothing.

To make matters worse, he reportedly refused several trade proposals, including the one that could have landed Dobson, and one that could have netted them Mikko Rantanen.

With an abundance of cap space available and a massive hole to fill, Toronto will need to move quickly to reshape their roster.