New York Islanders Top 10 Prospects In the System in 2018

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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 21: 2018 NHL Draft top prospect Noah Dobson of Canada talks with the media at Reunion Tower ahead of the NHL Draft on June 21, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Noah Dobson

Thanks to the Montreal Canadiens, Arizona Coyotes and the New York Rangers going off the board with their 2018 draft selections, Noah Dobson fell into the Islanders lap at number twelve.

The 6’3″ 176lbs blueliner from Summerside PEI is going to be a stud defender when he eventually reaches the NHL. This isn’t going to be a Michael Dal Colle situation. Dobson will make the NHL.

He’s mature for an 18-year-old, he can score with the best of them (he put up 69 points in 67 games for the Acadie-Bathurst Titans), and he can skate.

He has every single tool possible to excel at the NHL. And the New York Islanders were able to draft him 12th overall because some teams were committed to taking centers. It’s baffling to think that in this day and age teams still, draft need over the best available player.

Dobson won’t be in the NHL for a few years. Defenders just take longer to round-out to their NHL forms. Look at Ryan Pulock. Although injuries didn’t help Pulock out.

Waiting a few years for Dobson is fine. The Islanders already have the aforementioned Ryan Pulock currently playing with the team. They also have Devon Toews about to make the jump to the NHL as well.

In terms of young promising defenders, the Islanders are set for a year or two. But by 2020-21 Dobson should be ready to step in and make a big impact for the Islanders.