Canadiens sign Jakub Dobes to two-year contract extension

The Montreal Canadiens announced Sunday that the club has signed goaltender Jakub Dobes to a two-year, one-way contract extension worth $965,000 per season.

Debuting with the Canadiens last season, the 24-year-old Czech-born netminder made an immediate impact as he turned aside all 34 shots versus the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers to become only the fourth-ever Montreal goaltender to secure a shutout in his first-ever game. Allowing a single goal in his second game, coming against the Colorado Avalanche, Dobes put his name in the Canadiens’ record books as the first netminder to allow a single goal through his first two games.

In all, Dobes saw 16 appearances with the Canadiens in which he went 7-4-3 with a .909 save percentage, 2.74 goals-against average, and one shutout. Dobes then saw three more showings in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs in which he came away with a 1-2 record with an .881 save percentage and 2.91 goals-against average.

Prior to joining the Canadiens, Dobes saw 14 outings with the AHL affiliated Laval Rocket in which he went 9-3-1 coupled with a .910 save percentage and 2.44 goals-against average. In all, through two seasons with Laval, Dobes went 33-21-7 with a .906 save percentage, 2.82 goals-against average, and one shutout.

Dobes assumed the backup duties in Montreal last season following the struggles of 25-year-old Michigan-born netminder Cayden Primeau who through 11 outings went 2-3-1 with an .836 save percentage and 4.70 goals-against average. On Monday, Primeau was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a seventh-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Dobes was originally chosen by the Canadiens the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Prior to joining the pro ranks, Dobes spent two seasons with the NCAA’s Ohio State Buckeyes. In 2021-22, Dobes was recognized as the Big Ten’s Best Goaltender after he went 21-12-2 with a .934 save percentage, 2.26 goals-against average, and three shutouts.