Noah Dobson Brings All the Plus with Little of the Minus to the New York Islanders Blue Line

MINUS

The 24-year-old blueliner has shown a solid all-around style of play. However, critics have pointed out his eventual defensive lapses. These defensive lapses have been evident when transitioning from the defensive to the offensive zone. At times, it seems as though Dobson gets ahead of himself by trying to move the puck before ensuring the puck has exited the zone.

This situation requires a defense-first partner for Dobson. As such, having Alexander Romanov has been a determining factor in allowing Dobson to control the play and drive the puck. As such, Dobson’s detractors contend that he would not play at a high level if not for Romanov.

No offense to Romanov. He’s a great defenseman. But it’s not Romanov necessarily that enables Dobson to play well. It’s that both players team up to create opportunities that lead to scoring chances while minimizing the opposition’s scoring ability.

Also, Dobson has shown a lack of physicality at times. At 6’4”, Dobson has the size to be a bruising blueliner. However, Dobson uses his size to keep opponents away from the front of the net, allowing goaltenders to get a clear visual of the play.

While Dobson could deliver a meaner edge to his game, that’s not what he’s about. Dobson is a puck-moving defenseman who keeps opponents away from the net and focuses on making smart plays. That combination of skill and smarts allows Dobson to be a dominant force at both ends of the ice.

The Verdict

It may seem strange, but Noah Dobson is still just 24 years old. So, there’s still plenty of room to grow. Defensemen tend to take longer to fully develop their game. As such, it could be that we have just begun to scratch the surface of what Dobson can do.

This season, Dobson should get serious consideration for the Norris Trophy. Unless he regressed significantly, the only thing standing in Dobson’s way would be a major injury. Thus far, he’s shown considerable durability.

Ultimately, there’s little reason to believe that Dobson could be taking a Norris Trophy in the near future.