The NHL offseason is rarely short on drama, but this year, a familiar name to Montreal Canadiens fans has unexpectedly found himself at the center of controversy before the regular season has even begun.

With the echoes of draft night still fresh in everyone’s minds, few could have predicted that the player many believed would be donning a Habs jersey—thanks to a highly debated draft pick—would instead be making headlines for reasons no one saw coming.

In a twist that intertwines the futures of both the Canadiens and the Islanders, the recent transaction involving Noah Dobson and a coveted first-round pick has already taken on new dimensions.

The Islanders’ choice, a young defenseman who was firmly on Montreal’s radar, has made an immediate impact—but not for the reasons fans or analysts expected.

Instead of celebrating a promising start to his career, this blue-liner is now facing a significant setback that could have ripple effects for both franchises.

What happened to spark such a dramatic turn of events? How is this connected to Montreal’s draft strategy, and what does it mean for the prospect’s future? The answers are more surprising—and revealing—than you might think. Dive into the full story to uncover all the details behind this season’s first big suspension.

Photo of Noah Dobson (left) and Kashawn Aitcheson (right)

Photo credit: NHL

We already have a suspension to announce, for a name quite well-known to Montreal Canadiens fans.

With the 16th or 17th overall pick in the most recent NHL draft, many fans and experts thought the Habs would select young Kashawn Aitcheson.

In the end, those picks were traded to the New York Islanders (in the Noah Dobson trade), and the Islanders actually selected Kashawn Aitcheson with one of those picks.

Well, the young defenseman didn’t take too long to make headlines this season.

Suspension announced for Kashawn Aitcheson

The one who could possibly have become a Montreal Canadiens prospect, and who was technically involved in the Noah Dobson trade (according to HockeyDB), has already received a three-game suspension.

“The Islanders’ 2025 first-round pick and Barrie Colts defenseman, Kashawn Aitcheson, has been suspended three pre-season games for an illegal check to the head of an Owen Sound player on Monday.

Aitcheson will attend the Islanders’ rookie camp, which is expected to begin the week of September 8.

He is slated to return to Barrie for his fourth and final OHL season.

Aitcheson recorded 26 goals, 59 points in 64 games last season.”

All the details are in Stefen Rosner’s article, but let’s just say this is certainly a strange way for Aitcheson to start the season.

The 18-year-old defenseman, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 196 pounds, was indeed the 17th overall pick of the New York Islanders in 2025 (pick acquired from the Montreal Canadiens).

Last season, Aitcheson tallied 59 points in 64 games with the Barrie Colts (88 penalty minutes), and he had collected 39 points in 64 games in 2023-24 (126 penalty minutes).

He definitely has a very intriguing profile.