Mathieu Darche adroitly avoided sentiment in important first Islanders draft

It’s just unfortunate that Jeff Gorton didn’t want Noah Dobson this badly seven years ago — or even at all — when, as the Rangers general manager, he could have selected the righty defenseman at ninth overall in the first round instead of choosing Vitali Kravtsov at the 2018 draft in Dallas. 

But no. 

But, fast-forwarding to Friday in his current position as Montreal’s executive VP of hockey operations, Gorton oversaw the trade for Dobson by sending the Islanders the 16th and 17th selections in the first round plus winger Emil Heineman after the defenseman agreed to an eight-year extension at a $9.5 million AAV. 

The deal, completed early in the day, makes a whole lot of sense for the Canadiens all day and every day.