In the March 16 game against the Florida Panthers, Noah Dobson scored a remarkable goal to give the New York Islanders a 3-2 lead in a game they’d win 4-2. In the next game, he collected a rebound near the net to score the game-winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game the Islanders would also win 4-2.
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Dobson has always been the Islanders best-scoring defenseman yet has taken things up a notch lately in a season that hasn’t been a great one. He’s struggled on both ends of the ice and notably battled injuries halfway through the season. Dobson is back on the ice and with the season coming to a close, he’s a skater who can fuel a playoff push.
Dobson Helps an Otherwise Struggling Offense
The Islanders haven’t been great on offence all season, scoring only 2.70 goals per game. The Brock Nelson trade didn’t help the cause either. This is a team that wins with defense but goals are hard to come by, especially with the forward unit lacking a scoring presence.
It’s what makes Dobson’s play impactful. When he has the puck at the point, he can get it to the net and allow other skaters to find open looks. Likewise, his shot from the point opens up the offense and allows forwards to find shooting lanes deeper in the offensive zone.
In recent games, Dobson has made an impact with his skating and speed as well. His goal in the win against the Panthers made him look more like a forward than a defenseman as he moved into the offensive zone with the puck and slipped it into the goal. Dobson’s speed and puck handling will particularly help out the offense as he turns defense into instant offense.
The Islanders don’t generate a lot of offense and they will stall when they have the puck in the offensive zone. Dobson stepping up at the point will go a long way. This team doesn’t have many skaters who can drive the offense, but he’s one of the few who can do that and it will go a long way in a playoff push.
Dobson’s Defensive Play
One of the common criticisms of Dobson is his defensive play. Ironically, his 7.3 defensive point shares and 103 blocked shots indicate he’s one of the Islanders’ best defensemen. He’s not going to deliver the big hit but his skating and ability to create turnovers make him one of the better skaters on the ice.
The last two games have put his great play on full display. Usually, he’s on the same pair as Alexander Romanov, who is the stay-at-home defenseman while Dobson is the “freestyle” skater, making him look like a player who is often out of position. However, Romanov was out of the lineup and Dobson was tasked with stepping up on both ends of the ice. He stood out and allowed the Islanders to shut down a Panthers team with a great offense and a Penguins team led by their offense.
The Islanders are going to win with their defense and it starts with Dobson and Romanov. With the two skaters playing at a high level, this is a team that can get on a run and make a late push for one of the Eastern Conference wild-card spots.
What a Strong Finish Can Do for Dobson
Dobson and Romanov are both restricted free agents this offseason. Ideally, the Islanders will re-sign both defensemen as they will be building blocks for the future. The problem is that they can’t afford to keep them unless they conduct some salary-cap gymnastics.
Yes, the cap is going up but with Kyle Palmieri also in need of a new contract and likely getting one, the Islanders only have so much room to maneuver. If they have to choose between Dobson and Romanov, they’ll choose Romanov, who is the shutdown defenseman and has consistently produced since joining the Islanders in the 2022 offseason.
That said, a great finish from Dobson will remind the Islanders of what he can provide on both ends of the ice. He’s the player who could will them to the playoffs and possibly allow them to steal a series. If he does that, it will be hard to ignore his case to keep him around long-term.
