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Jakub Dobes slips up in postgame interview, hinting at a coming announcement from Kent Hughes


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Gabriel Sami
February 1, 2026  (9:45)
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Jan 31, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) looks for the puck during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.
Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Jakub Dobes may have unintentionally confirmed his official NHL status with a simple sentence said live on television.

The postgame interview on TVA Sports took an interesting turn last night.
The Czech goaltender had just earned a convincing win against the Buffalo Sabres.
The question on everyone’s mind concerned his situation during the upcoming break.
The NHL will soon pause to make way for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
However, the American Hockey League will continue its regular schedule during that period.
Logic suggested that Kent Hughes would send his young goaltender back to the Laval Rocket so he could keep playing.
Dobes appeared to brush that theory aside with disarming spontaneity.
He candidly mentioned that he planned to go "somewhere warm" during the break.

A major clue about Kent Hughes’ and the Canadiens’ decision

If the 5th-round pick (136th overall) in 2020 is heading off on a sunny vacation, he isn’t reporting to Laval.
That implicitly means the organization now views him as a full-time member of the big club.
Fans will be thrilled to see that management seems willing to grant him the same rest as the veterans.
It’s a huge vote of confidence from the front office.
Kent Hughes hasn’t officially announced anything yet, but clearly, the idea of Jakub Dobes being sent down to the Laval Rocket during the Olympic break can be forgotten.
The excellent Nicolas Cloutier of TVA Sports had written an interesting article on the subject.
"Giving Jakub Dobes playing time in Laval during the Olympic break will theoretically be possible for the Canadiens, but it will require quite an administrative juggling act.

In other words, even if there are no games, Dobes can’t be sent to Laval unless another goaltender makes the trip in the opposite direction (at least from an administrative standpoint)."

- Nicolas Cloutier
This now seems like a settled matter!
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Jakub Dobes slips up in postgame interview, hinting at a coming announcement from Kent Hughes

Does Jakub Dobes deserve to stay in the NHL for good?

Yes, he’s proven himself and he’s the number one154787.5 %
Yes, but as a number two behind Samuel1257.1 %
No, not yet965.4 %
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