When the Montreal Canadiens called up Jakub Dobes in late December to replace a struggling Cayden Primeau, it was primarily to have Primeau regain his confidence after a dismal start to the NHL campaign.

Looking on at the other end was 23-year-old Jakub Dobes, who was making just his fifth career NHL start and his first on home ice. And yet, when the final horn sounded, it was the rookie netminder getting the better of the grizzled veteran as Dobes and the Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers 5-4 in a back-and-forth overtime thriller.

Before this season, was Jakub Dobes even on anyone’s radar? Unless you’re a die-hard Montreal Canadiens fan, the answer is probably not. That said, during the last month, the young Czech goalie has risen from obscurity to become one of the most desirable assets in the NHL.