The NHL season is still almost two months away but the New York Islanders have a few questions surrounding how their roster may look on opening night. One of those is whether Noah Dobson will get a shot with the Islanders to start the year.
Dobson has been a star in the QMJHL and is coming off back-to-back Memorial Cups. In 186 games across his three junior seasons he’s scored 147 points, which speaks for itself in terms of his offensive capabilities. Recently, Lou Lamoriello said Dobson “will be given every opportunity… to make the Islanders in a CBC article, which begs the question as to whether this will be the year.
Strong words from #Isles GM Lou Lamoriello about prized prospect Noah Dobson in a CBC article.
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) August 12, 2019
"He's very humble, very sincere, very team-orientated, very unselfish as a player on the ice and certainly respects his teammates and the way he treats other people."
There’s a great chance Dobson at least gets a nine-game trial run this year which could be the determining factor in whether or not he sticks in the NHL. Having Ryan Pulock and Noah Dobson as a one-two punch on the right-side may be too tempting not to run with though and the two will only continue to develop in the next few seasons.
There’s also the obvious option of sending Dobson back to junior for one more season. Holding off a year on a pro promotion gives the Islanders the option to start Dobson in Bridgeport for the 2020-21 season. That said, right now he looks like a top prospect and there may not be much reason to wait a year to start him in the AHL just for the sake of it. Plus, you have to wonder whether Dobson can really further his development with another year in junior or if it would be better to challenge him against top competition.
Even if Nick Leddy was actually moved, it still makes for a left-side versus right-side dilemma. New York could always use Carolina’s method and play two right-shot defense together, despite how uncommon it is to see it happen.
Whether Dobson arrives on the NHL scene this year or it takes some time will remain unanswered for the next couple of months though. Regardless, we know Dobson could be a key part of the Islanders’ blue line for the next decade or so, it’s just a matter of if he can help right now.
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