Mathieu Darche continued to check boxes off his to-do list Wednesday. The Islanders announced a two-year deal with Emil Heineman after trading for the restricted free agent’s rights in the deal that sent Noah Dobson to Montreal.

The Montreal Canadiens are reportedly bringing in one of the NHL's most productive right-shot defensemen ahead of the 2025-26 season.

This past season, the Canadiens ended a three-year playoff drought and looked like a team on the rise. With the team on an upward trajectory, general manager Kent Hughes took a big swing ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft. Montreal sent the No. 16 and No. 17 overall picks to the Isles for Dobson, a 25-year-old defenseman with great puck-moving skills.