Controversy erupted in Montreal hockey circles last night, igniting passionate debate among fans and analysts alike. Following a heated matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, former Canadiens defenseman and current BPM Sports host Gilbert Delorme didn’t mince words when assessing Noah Dobson’s performance, unleashing a blunt critique that sent shockwaves through the media.

Delorme’s pointed remarks about Dobson’s effort and attitude have sparked intense discussion—not just among listeners, but also between respected commentators themselves.

While Delorme was adamant that Dobson’s play was “nonchalant the whole damn game,” his colleague Anthony Marcotte quickly stepped in to offer a very different perspective, referencing detailed statistics and defending Dobson’s overall contribution. This clash of opinions has left fans divided and has put extra attention on head coach Martin St-Louis, who now faces a critical decision regarding Dobson’s role moving forward.

But was Dobson’s performance truly as lackluster as Delorme claims, or is there more to the story? With the season freshly underway and redemption on the line in tonight’s game against the Red Wings, all eyes are on the Canadiens. Will Dobson respond to criticism, and what changes will St-Louis make? Dive in as we unpack the drama and what it means for Montreal’s future.

Photo of Martin St-Louis

Photo credit: NHL

Former Montreal Canadien and current BPM Sports host, Gilbert Delorme, had a lot to say today about Noah Dobson.

He believes Dobson really wasn’t good last night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he even reflected that in his postgame summary.

Delorme sent a clear message here to head coach Martin St-Louis regarding defenseman Dobson.. It actually sparked quite a heated debate:

“I didn’t find Dobson good at all! I thought he was nonchalant the whole damn game!”
– Gilbert Delorme

For his part, his colleague Anthony Marcotte completely disagrees with Delorme’s criticism of Dobson, seemingly pointing to the following chart:

Martin St-Louis will hate Noah Dobson’s backcheck

We mentioned this a little earlier, but indeed, Dobson was extremely disappointing on the goal scored by Auston Matthews (the insurance marker for the Toronto Maple Leafs).

That being said, looking at the game more broadly, I’d tend to side with the excellent Anthony Marcotte.

Dobson had a good game overall, but yes, he was extremely nonchalant on the Leafs’ insurance goal (Matthews’).

The season has just begun, and I’m sure Martin St-Louis will bring it up with Dobson-and I’m also sure he won’t make the same mistake twice!

The good news is that Dobson and the Canadiens have a chance to redeem themselves tonight against the Red Wings. As a reminder, St-Louis made only one change to the lineup, and it’s in net, with Dobes replacing Montembeault.