NY Islanders GM catching his breath before negotiating key extensions on defense

The New York Islanders and new GM Mathieu Darche have business to tend to, regarding restricted free agent defensemen Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov, who are both due for new contracts. With each playing a significant role in the team's top-four defensive corps, the organization is expected to prioritize long-term extensions for both players, but it may not be right away.

“When players have arbitration rights, it’s a process,” said Darche at the NHL Scouting Combine, according to Newsday. “So I’ve been talking to the agents. I’m meeting with our pro staff next week on Long Island. We’re discussing the team. But I’ve had discussions with the agents. I just told them, ‘Listen, I want to sign your guys. Let me catch my breath here.’ There’s no rush. They’re restricted and there’s the arbitration process. I’ll try to get something done, but all in due time. It’s not like it has to be done this week.”

Dobson, 25, is coming off a down offensive season after becoming the first Isles defenseman to reach 70 points since Denis Potvin. However, there's no disputing that he's developed into a reliable, all-situations blueliner, which has positioned him as a potential cornerstone of the franchise’s future.

Drafted 12th overall in 2018, Dobson completed a three-year bridge deal and is now eligible for a long-term extension that could secure his services well into his prime. Though some fans have soured on the thought of signing Dobson to a massive extension, Darche appears set in his thinking that Noah Dobson-type players are tough to come by. "There's not 50 Noah Dobsons in the NHL as far as the age, skating, he's a right-shot D. I'm excited to hopefully get a deal and move forward with him," he told the New York Post earlier this week.

Romanov, 25, has consistently brought a physical edge and steady presence to the Islanders' back end. Acquired via trade from Montreal in 2022, he has steadily improved in his defensive zone play and logged consistent top-four minutes alongside Dobson. Romanov also completed a bridge contract and is expected to seek term and stability after proving his value over the past two seasons.

With Darche beginning his first offseason at the helm, all signs point to him wanting to lock each player up to deals, though the term and AAV numbers could be tricky, even as the salary cap is expected to rise in the coming seasons. However, all things considered, locking in Dobson and Romanov would provide the Islanders with long-term stability on the blue line as they look to retool for future contention and potentially add top prospect Matthew Schaefer to the defensive corps with the No. 1 overall selection at the June 27th draft.