Canadiens’ Jakub Dobes Picks up Where He Left Off

The Montreal Canadiens entered the 2026-27 season with plenty of expectations, and one of the biggest questions surrounded their situation in goal. After emerging as a major piece for Montreal last season, Jakub Dobes entered the new campaign with increased responsibility and expectations.

If his first start is any indication, Dobes appears ready for it. Dobes stopped 26 of the 28 shots he faced in his season debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs, delivering several big saves and giving the Canadiens a chance throughout the night. He was a big reason why the Habs found a way to win this opening game 3-2 in Toronto.

One game obviously cannot tell the story of an entire season, but after the way he finished 2025-26, seeing Dobes immediately return with another strong performance is an encouraging development.

Dobes Starts the Season Strong

There is a difference between simply finishing a game with a solid save percentage and making saves when your team desperately needs them. Dobes did both in his first appearance of the season. The Canadiens gave up their share of quality opportunities, and Dobes was repeatedly asked to come up with difficult stops. He looked composed, tracked the puck well and, most importantly, prevented the game from getting away from Montreal.

Stopping 26 of 28 shots is a strong statistical performance, but the timing of some of his saves made the night even more impressive. Whenever Montreal appeared vulnerable, Dobes was there to keep his team within striking distance.

That is exactly what the Canadiens need from him this season. Dobes established himself as a legitimate NHL option last year and continued to raise his stock with his play down the stretch and into the playoffs. Instead of looking like a goaltender simply enjoying a strong stretch, he increasingly looked capable of becoming an important part of Montreal’s long-term plans.

Canadiens Have Put Their Confidence in Dobes

Montreal’s expectations for Dobes are much different than they were when he originally arrived in the NHL. The Canadiens demonstrated that confidence during the offseason by signing him to a three-year extension worth just under $5.4 million annually. That is a significant commitment to a goaltender who is still relatively early in his NHL career, and it showed just how much the organization believes in what Dobes demonstrated last season.

Dobes’ first start was exactly the type of performance Montreal hoped to see after making that commitment. He did not suddenly look overwhelmed by the expectations surrounding him. Instead, he looked like the same confident goaltender who became such an important part of the Canadiens’ success last season.

There will inevitably be difficult nights. Goaltending is an unpredictable position, and expecting Dobes to dominate every game would be unrealistic. What Montreal needs is consistency, and his opening performance was a positive first step toward providing it.

Dobes Could Be a Game-Changer for the Canadiens

Goaltending stability was something Montreal lacked for stretches last season. That made life significantly more difficult for a young team still learning how to consistently win games. Dobes has an opportunity to change that.

The Canadiens do not necessarily need their goaltender to steal every game. With the offensive talent they have accumulated and the continued development of their young core, they should be capable of providing plenty of support. What they need behind that group is someone who can keep them competitive when things are not going perfectly.

That is what Dobes did in his first start. If Montreal has an off night defensively, Dobes needs to make the extra save. If the Canadiens are struggling to generate offense, he needs to keep the score close enough for one goal to change the game. Those performances can make an enormous difference over an 84-game season.

The Canadiens invested heavily in Dobes because they believe he can become that type of goaltender. There is still an entire season ahead, and one strong performance does not guarantee anything. But considering how Dobes finished last season, his first start feels less like an isolated performance and more like a continuation of what Montreal saw from him during its 2025-26 run.

If Dobes can provide this level of stability throughout the season and the Canadiens can give him consistent support, Montreal’s situation in goal could quickly go from one of its biggest questions to one of its biggest strengths. For now, Dobes has done exactly what the Canadiens wanted: pick up right where he left off.