This is how you can send NY Islanders D Noah Dobson to the All-Star Game

While Mathew Barzal is more than deserving to represent the New York Islanders for the third time at the 2024 All-Star Game in Toronto on Saturday, Feb 3, a strong argument can be made that defenseman Noah Dobson has been the team’s most valuable player.

The No. 12 pick in the 2018 NHL, who turns 24 on Jan. 7, has matured into a star this season. Dobson entered Thursday night's game against the Arizona Coyotes with 30 assists and, perhaps more impressively, has turned into a workhorse with the team missing defensemen Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock for an extended period of time.

Dobson, who has been quarterbacking the team's much-improved power play, is averaging 25:53 TOI, second in the league only to Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, and has surpassed the 25-minute mark in 18 straight games. If he maintains this pace, he'll be the first Islander defenseman to average more than 25 minutes since the 2013-14 season.

This is how you can send NY Islanders D Noah Dobson to the All-Star Game

All All-Star hope isn't lost for Dobson yet. There are still 12 spots open (eight skaters and four goalies) via the 2024 NHL All-Star Fan Vote. You can vote for Dobson and other Islanders at NHL.com/vote or via X (formerly Twitter) and the NHL App now through Jan. 11.

For those who choose to support Dobson via "X," there are three ways to do it. Be sure to use #NHLALLSTARVOTE and then add one of the following: 1) the player's name, 2) the player's name as a hashtag, or 3) tag a player's handle on the app.

Dobson was far from the only snub on Thursday. New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin, who is fourth in scoring, was not selected as Igor Shesterkin was taken as the Blueshirts representative, and all three Norris Trophy finalists from last season, Erik Karlsson, Adam Fox, and Cale Makar, are not yet on the team. Adin Hill, who won a Stanley Cup with Vegas last season and owns the league's best GAA, wasn't selected either, as Jack Eichel got the nod for the Golden Knights.