Jakub Dobeš

Jakub Dobeš (born 27 May 2001) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fifth round, 136th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Early years

Initially leaving his home country at the age of 16 to pursue playing opportunities overseas, Dobeš joined the Topeka Pilots of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). During the course of the 2019–20 season, he compiled a 7-3-0 record with a 1.59 goals against average (GAA), a .946 save percentage, along with three shutouts. Thereafter, Dobeš played with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for parts of two seasons where he was named to the All-USHL Second Team prior to his collegiate commitment to The Ohio State University of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beginning in 2021–22.

Collegiate

Following an outstanding freshman year with the Buckeyes, posting both a 2.26 GAA and a .934 save percentage, his efforts resulted in multiple awards, including the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, the All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, and co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year, which he split with defenseman Luke Hughes. He was also named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award presented to the best men's goaltender across NCAA Division I ice hockey.

Professional

Selected in the fifth round (136th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 NHL entry draft, Dobeš signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens on March 31, 2023. He subsequently joined Montreal's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Laval Rocket to end the 2022–23 season, but did not see any playing time.

After attending the Canadiens' 2023 training camp, Dobeš was assigned to Laval to start the 2023–24 season. Initially struggling at the onset of his professional career, Dobeš allowed at least three goals in each of his first six starts. However, as the season progressed, he adjusted and became a solid fixture in the Rocket net, consistently starting as the team's top goaltender. He recorded his first AHL shutout on February 28, 2024, making 35 stops in a 4–0 win versus the Bridgeport Islanders. Despite this resurgence, the team would ultimately come up short and miss the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs. Dobeš would finish his rookie AHL campaign tied for the league lead in games played by a goaltender, with 51.

After posting a 9–3–1 record through 14 games with Laval to begin the 2024–25 season, Dobeš was recalled by the Canadiens on December 27, 2024. Team head coach Martin St. Louis announced that Dobeš would make his NHL debut against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on December 28. With a 34-save shutout, he became just the fourth goaltender in Canadiens franchise history to register a shutout in their NHL debut, joining Bob Perreault, Wayne Thomas, and Yann Danis. Additionally, Dobeš became the seventh goaltender in league history to record a win versus the defending Stanley Cup champion in their NHL debut, and the third to have done so via shutout, after Hal Winkler and Daren Puppa. Following a 2–1 shootout performance over the Colorado Avalanche on January 4, 2025, Dobeš made franchise history as the first Canadiens goaltender to allow one goal through his first two career NHL starts. Improving his record to 3–0–0 with a 3–2 overtime win over the Washington Capitals on January 10, he matched Bob Perreault as the only Canadiens goaltenders to allow three goals or fewer through his first three career starts with the team. A week later, Dobeš became the third goaltender in NHL history following Viktor Fasth and Martin Jones to amass four inaugural career wins while allowing four or fewer cumulative goals through the same number of appearances. Similarly, he also joined Charlie Lindgren as the only other goaltender in league history to earn wins through their first four NHL starts with each game taking place on the road. On January 19, Dobeš became the thirteenth goaltender in NHL history to go 5–0–0 over the course of his first five career games, and just the fourth goaltender born outside North America to achieve same, after Antero Niittymäki, Frederik Andersen, and Pyotr Kochetkov respectively.

Remaining as the Canadiens' backup goaltender for the duration of the regular season and into the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, he would appear in Game 3 of the team's first round series against the Washington Capitals after starter Sam Montembeault had to exit the game due to apparent injury. The Canadiens ultimately won 6–3, with Dobeš becoming the third netminder in franchise history to earn a playoff victory in a relief appearance, following Charlie Hodge (1955) and Rogie Vachon (1969).

Entering the offseason as a restricted free agent, Dobeš was extended a qualifying offer by the Canadiens on June 30, 2025. Thereafter, he agreed to a two-year extension with the team on July 6.

Career statistics

Awards and honours

References

External links

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Ohio State Buckeyes bio

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dobes, Jakub
2001 births
Living people
Czech expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Czech ice hockey goaltenders
Ice hockey people from Ostrava
Laval Rocket players
Montreal Canadiens draft picks
Montreal Canadiens players
Omaha Lancers players
Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey players
21st-century Czech sportsmen