NY Islanders Plus/Minus for 2023-24: Noah Dobson is critical to Isles' future

PLUS

In the first three months of the season, the Prince Edward Island native scored ten goals and averaged about 21 minutes of ice time per night. He followed that up with only scoring three more times in the latter four months of the season while shortening his average TOI by almost two minutes. The goal-scoring ability is there, but Dobson needs to sharpen his consistency for this team that needs all the goals they can get.

On the offensive side, Dobson has flashed everything he is capable of being: an elite offensive defenseman. He adds speed to the backend that the Isles won't get from the more defensive-minded players. He has a powerful right-handed wrist shot and slap shot that he might need to use a little more, but he gives other teams fear at the top of the blue line. Scoring double-digit goals is hard for a defenseman to do, even for the higher-tier offensive D-Men, and for Dobson to crack 13 in the last two seasons at 22 and 23 years old is impressive. Plenty of Islanders forwards can't light the lamp that many times.

Dobson's ability to pass and fake the defender out in front of him while up a man is part of the reason why he is a smart power play QB. Capable of sliding a slick pass over to a player teeing up for a one-timer, say, Brock Nelson, Ryan Pulock, or Wahlstrom, is a good asset to have and should be planned on being utilized more. He has plenty of patience at the line as well, which you don't see from a guy like Aho. With two seasons under his belt at running the power play, hopefully, the unit as a whole can build around him next season.