New York Islanders Three Positive Takeaways from First Three Games

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: Noah Dobson #8 of the New York Islanders leads the team out for warm-ups prior to playing in his first NHL game against the Edmonton Oilers at NYCB’s LIVE Nassau Coliseum on October 08, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. As part of the rookie initiation, the rest of the team gives the player a few laps before they join him. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Noah Dobson

The last 19-year-old defenseman to make his debut with the New York Islanders was Mathieu Biron. The former 21st overall pick by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1998 draft was acquired by the Islanders in the Zigmund Palffy trade.

The big 6’6″ defenseman put up eight points in that season for the Islanders with four goals and an equal number of helpers. The big man didn’t stick around long, he was shipped out for Adrian Aucoin two years later.

For twenty years the New York Islanders didn’t have a promising young blueliner to make their debut with the organization. That was halted with 2018 12th overall pick Noah Dobson.

The 6’3″ blueliner from Prince-Edward Island has everything going for him. He is calm with the puck, he has great positioning and provides offense from the blueline.

Against the Edmonton Oilers, his official NHL debut, Dobson showed all of these traits to the Coliseum crowd. While the Edmonton Oilers had already killed the game off with five goals, Noah Dobson carved out a great scoring opportunity late in the third that

Matt Martin

capitalized on.

It was only his first NHL game and Dobson showed why he belongs in the NHL and not back with his junior team in the QMJHL. Again, he’s only 19-years-old, he’s only going to get better from here (and put on a bit of muscle).

His emergence gives the other Islanders right-handed blueliners something to think about. If they can’t give the Isles their A-game they’ll find themselves replaced rather quickly.