Jakub Dobes Bio
Jakub Dobes is a Czech professional ice hockey player who serves as a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on May 27, 2001, in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Dobes was selected 136th overall by the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Draft. After building his game through youth hockey in the United States and an acclaimed collegiate run at The Ohio State University, he turned professional in 2023 and quickly announced himself at the NHL level.
Standing 193 centimeters tall and weighing around 98 kilograms, Dobes uses his size and composure to handle high-pressure moments. His rapid rise from junior circuits to a roster spot in Montreal has made him one of the most talked-about young netminders in the league.
Early Life and Background
Jakub Dobes grew up in Ostrava, a city in the eastern part of the Czech Republic that has produced several hockey talents. He is the son of Zdeněk Dobes, who played professional hockey for HC Olomouc and HC Vítkovice in the Czech Extraliga, and Viera Dobes, a former competitive figure skater. His parents’ athletic backgrounds gave him an early appreciation for competitive sport and physical training.
At the age of 16, Dobes left his home country and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, where he lived with Ľuboš Bartečko, a family friend and former St. Louis Blues forward. He enrolled at De Smet Jesuit High School and joined the St. Louis AAA Blues youth club. His play with both the AAA Blues and De Smet helped him earn a path into higher-level junior hockey in North America.
Path to Professional Hockey
Following his success at the youth level in St. Louis, Dobes joined the Topeka Pilots of the North American Hockey League for the 2019–20 season. He posted a 7-3-0 record with a 1.59 goals against average, a .946 save percentage, and three shutouts, establishing himself as one of the league’s most promising young goaltenders.
Dobes then moved to the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League, where he played parts of two seasons and was named to the All-USHL Second Team. His performance in the USHL opened the door to a collegiate commitment at The Ohio State University, where he played beginning in the 2021–22 season. Representing the Czech Republic at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, where his team finished fourth after an overtime loss to the United States in the bronze medal game, also strengthened his international profile.
At Ohio State, Dobes had an outstanding freshman year, recording a 2.26 goals against average and a .934 save percentage. He earned the All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection, the All-Big Ten First Team honor, Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, and shared the co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year award with defenseman Luke Hughes. He was also recognized as a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, given to the best men’s goaltender in NCAA Division I ice hockey.
Jakub Dobes Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Dobes began his competitive journey in North America with the Topeka Pilots of the NAHL during the 2019–20 season. His numbers drew attention from scouts, and he was selected 136th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Draft. He continued developing with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL before beginning his collegiate career at The Ohio State University in 2021.
Across his time with the Topeka Pilots, Omaha Lancers, and Ohio State Buckeyes, Dobes built a reputation for steady positioning and quick reflexes. His accolades at the college level confirmed his status as one of the top goaltending prospects in the Canadiens system and set the stage for his professional transition.
Laval Rocket Era (2023–2024)
After completing his sophomore season at Ohio State, Dobes signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on March 31, 2023. He was assigned to the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens’ American Hockey League affiliate, where he finished the 2022–23 season without appearing in a game. He returned to Laval for the 2023–24 campaign after attending the Canadiens’ training camp.
Dobes struggled at the start of his professional career, allowing at least three goals in each of his first six starts. He eventually settled into the role of the Rocket’s starting goaltender and recorded his first AHL shutout on February 28, 2024, stopping 35 shots in a 4–0 win over the Bridgeport Islanders. Despite his late-season improvement, Laval missed the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs, and Dobes finished his rookie AHL season tied for the league lead in games played by a goaltender with 51 appearances.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2024–Present)
Dobes opened the 2024–25 season with the Laval Rocket and posted a 9–3–1 record through 14 games before being recalled by the Canadiens on December 27, 2024. Head coach Martin St. Louis announced that Dobes would make his NHL debut against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on December 28. He responded with a 34-save shutout, becoming the fourth goaltender in Canadiens history to record a shutout in his NHL debut, joining Bob Perreault, Wayne Thomas, and Yann Danis.
His early NHL stretch produced several historic markers. After a 2–1 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche on January 4, 2025, he became the first Canadiens goaltender to allow one goal through his first two career NHL starts. A 3–2 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals on January 10 moved his record to 3–0–0, and a week later he became the third goaltender in NHL history, after Viktor Fasth and Martin Jones, to record four wins while allowing four or fewer cumulative goals through four appearances. On January 19, he became the 13th goaltender in league history to begin a career 5–0–0 and the fourth goaltender born outside North America to do so.
Dobes served as the Canadiens’ backup goaltender into the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs and appeared in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Washington Capitals after Sam Montembeault exited with an apparent injury. The Canadiens won 6–3, making Dobes the third netminder in franchise history to earn a playoff victory in a relief appearance, following Charlie Hodge in 1955 and Rogie Vachon in 1969. He signed a two-year contract extension with Montreal on July 6, 2025, and took on a larger role early in the 2025–26 season, winning each of his first six appearances and earning NHL Third Star of the Month for October 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dobes relies on his 193-centimeter frame to cover the lower portion of the net while staying patient through screens and cross-ice movement. His calm rebound control and willingness to challenge shooters have helped him handle pressure during his first NHL starts. Coaches have praised his preparation and poise, traits that have allowed him to integrate quickly within the Canadiens’ goaltending structure.
Notable Events and Milestones
Dobes’ 34-save shutout in his NHL debut on December 28, 2024, against the Florida Panthers stands as his signature early-career moment. He also earned his place in franchise history with his relief playoff win in 2025, and his run of five consecutive wins to open his NHL career placed him among a select group of league goaltenders.
Jakub Dobes Career Wins
Across junior, collegiate, and professional play, Dobes has built a steady résumé of victories. His most prominent wins include shutouts at the NAHL, AHL, and NHL levels, along with a playoff relief victory during the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.
NHL Highlights
Dobes opened his NHL career with five consecutive wins between December 28, 2024, and January 19, 2025, highlighted by his debut shutout over the Florida Panthers and an overtime victory against the Washington Capitals. He added a playoff win in relief during Game 3 of the 2025 first-round series against Washington and began the 2025–26 season with six consecutive victories.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NHL, Dobes recorded his first AHL shutout on February 28, 2024, against the Bridgeport Islanders and put together a 9–3–1 record with the Laval Rocket before his December 2024 recall. His junior and collegiate careers featured multiple standout stretches, including his decorated freshman season at The Ohio State University.
Jakub Dobes Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Dobes comes from a sports-minded household shaped by both hockey and figure skating. His father, Zdeněk Dobes, played professional hockey in the Czech Extraliga for HC Olomouc and HC Vítkovice, while his mother, Viera Dobes, was a competitive figure skater. This athletic foundation influenced Dobes’ early training and approach to goaltending.
Personal Life
After moving from the Czech Republic to St. Louis as a teenager, Dobes continued to build his career in North America. Public details about his personal relationships and current residence are limited.
2025 Season Performance
Dobes began the 2025 calendar year by extending his perfect NHL start to five consecutive victories, a run that placed him alongside some of the league’s most accomplished debuting goaltenders. As the season progressed, he settled into the Canadiens’ backup role behind Sam Montembeault and continued to deliver steady performances whenever called upon.
During the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, Dobes earned a relief victory in Game 3 against the Washington Capitals, cementing his value to the Canadiens’ net. The offseason brought a two-year contract extension on July 6, 2025, signaling Montreal’s confidence in his long-term role.
Entering the 2025–26 season, Dobes assumed a larger share of the goaltending workload, winning each of his first six appearances and earning NHL Third Star of the Month honors for October 2025. With Montembeault’s early-season struggles opening the door, Dobes appears positioned to play a central role for the Canadiens heading into the rest of the year.