Jakub Dobes emerging as major bargain asset in Canadiens’ crease

Jakub Dobes is quickly turning into one of the NHL’s most valuable pieces in goal, and the Montreal Canadiens are reaping the benefits of their investment. The Czech netminder launched his 2026-27 campaign on Tuesday in Toronto, backstopping a 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs in the Canadiens’ season opener.

In that first start of the year, Dobes stopped 26 shots and finished with a .929 save percentage, limiting Toronto to two goals in a rivalry game that often tests goaltenders early. It was his first victory of the new season and another sign that his strong work in last spring’s playoffs was no one-off.

Playoff form meets one of the league’s best cap hits

Dobes is building on a notable 2026 post-season in which he posted a .909 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average. When those numbers are weighed against his contract situation, his value around the league becomes hard to ignore.

He has just entered the final season of a two-year deal that carries a $965,000 cap hit, one of the smallest salary-cap charges among projected starting goaltenders. That fits the broader approach under general manager Kent Hughes, who has stacked a series of team-friendly contracts to stay flexible as the league’s salary cap rises.

The real advantage for Montreal is that Dobes is already secured beyond this year. A new three-year contract is set to begin in 2027-28 with a cap hit of $5.3 million. Based on current projections, that figure would make him only the 20th-highest-paid goalie in the league for that season, slotted below goaltenders such as Tristan Jarry, Dan Vladar and Adin Hill, despite a trajectory that suggests he could outplay many peers on richer deals.

Fast climb through Canadiens history books

For all his upside, Dobes is still in the early stages of his NHL career. At 25, he has appeared in just 60 regular-season games spread over two partial seasons before this one. Yet his win in Toronto was already his 37th in the league, a total that ranks fourth in Canadiens history for a goalie through his first 60 outings, placing him in select company very quickly.

Over those 60 games, Dobes owns a .904 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average, solid marks for a goaltender still gaining experience. When those results are paired with his current low cap hit and relatively modest upcoming salary, it becomes clear why he is being viewed as one of the NHL’s best-value goaltenders.

If his performance continues on this path, Dobes’ current deal and the extension already in place could stand as one of the most efficient pieces of business of the Hughes era in Montreal. With every additional start and win, the case strengthens that the Canadiens may have locked up a long-term number one goalie at a fraction of the going rate.