2023-24 Breakout Alert: Noah Dobson
The Isles' new #1 defenseman
In previous years, an injury to Adam Pelech spelled doom for the New York Islanders. Beyond his rare status as a shutdown blueliner, his overall impact dwarfed that of his teammates.
Not this season. Despite his absence (as well as fellow rearguards Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield going down in early December), the Isles have produced the seventh-best record in the league since Nov. 24. How has the club not only survived but thrived without its top defenseman in the fold?
Well…it discovered another one.
Stick Work
Noah Dobson’s improvement on the defensive side of the ice would put a smile on former Isles coach Barry Trotz’s face.
The fifth-year pro has rounded out his game to become an all-situations, minute-munching rock for his team in 2023-24. In fact, not a single player in the league can rival his usage following Pelech’s upper-body injury (27:13 TOI). Moreover, he’s even tapped into Trotz’s protect-the-house spirit, narrowing his focus to solidity in the slot.
His average skating distance, which ranks below the 50th percentile among D-men, reflects his economical approach:
Rather than chasing puck-carriers across the entire surface, Dobson’s opted for a simpler tack: Let them come to him. This does surrender a measure of control to the opposition (47.2 CF%), but restricting his radius has muffled his weaknesses while pushing his assets to the fore.
He’d shown flashes of stout defense in the past. This year, his 6’4”, 200-pound build (NYI 8) and active stick are in position to extinguish fires every night:
In transition, he’s striving to play with more discipline, passing opponents on the fringes off to backcheckers so he can stay inside the dots. Sure, that often means uncontested entries. On the flip side, offenses will get nothing for free in the middle of the ice.
When there’s sustained OZ pressure, the 23-year-old lays in the weeds and watches the puck (not necessarily his mark) like a hawk. That play recognition enables him to locate the point of attack and repel offenses in meet-me-at-the-rim fashion. Of course, his pesky stick check comes in especially handy in such instances.
It’s worth noting that Dobson does indeed skew conservative, but he’s aware of his impressive wingspan and sets his landmarks accordingly, often granting forwards the illusion of space before promptly eating it up.
He’s essentially learned to play long in a confined area:
Watch how he corrals Jack Hughes (NJ 86), who is excellent at weaponizing opposing defensemen (shooting through their legs, under their stick, etc.) to confuse goaltenders. After the Isles D-man claims the heart of the slot and leverages his reach to swallow space from the inside out (left to right in this case), Hughes’ best bet is a highly contested release.
What’s more, Dobson doesn’t just lunge at the Devils star right off the bat. He only challenges the shot once Hughes enters his motion. He’s rangy, sturdy and patient in a setting that frequently conjures panic.
It’s stick on puck, on repeat.
This point-of-attack stinginess has translated to sparkling defensive numbers. Oh, and he’s delivered them against the stiffest competition:
Don’t get it twisted: As a pure defender, he still doesn’t hold a candle to Pelech. There are levels to this. The key here is that Dobson has already climbed several of them in his first real taste of top-pairing deployment.
Point Play
The efficient movement that’s boosted Dobson’s defense has also supercharged his offense.
Whereas his new-school peers race around the rink, he’s once again whittled down his scope in order to master one facet of his craft: point play. It’s fair to say long-range life suits him perfectly too. As an average skater, he’s piling up the points (36 in 37 games) through deception and timing.
Dobson may not vacate the blue line very often—relative to his peers—but that’s the whole beauty of this development. He doesn’t need to. He can quarterback the action without exposing the Islanders to counterattacks:
The first thing you’ll notice in his film is tempo. Not skating speed so much as playing speed. Dobson is quite fond of one-timers, continually beating would-be blockers to the punch. With that said, he’s more interested in shrewd placement than booming power. Consequently, his teammates can roll up their sleeves and battle for loose change in the trenches.
His shooting metrics from distance speak volumes:
Dobson isn’t a one-pace pony, though. He also displays serious poise when New York’s traffic hasn’t settled in or his lane is busier than he’d prefer. This calmer gear can bewitch defenders precisely because his usual M.O. unfolds at a fever pitch. This is…too slow for comfort. He must be up to something. He often is.
He might buy time to uncover an alternative release point, throw a quick feint and dash into open ice or sling a pass to a teammate on the other side of the royal road. Once again, he values accuracy over velocity. Nearly every dish lands directly in the wheelhouse.
Dobson remains on his platform throughout, so there’s no telling which trick he’ll pull out of his bag:
Upon scooping up the puck vs. the Blue Jackets, he notices that there are no bodies in front of Columbus’ goaltender. Shooting would be a low-percentage choice. He’s nevertheless drawn the attention of three defenders. Yes, his shot commands that much respect. It also cracks open A+ passing corridors. The moment Boone Jenner (CBJ 38) overextends, Dobson whistles it over to Pierre Engvall (NYI 47).
Tape to tape, back of the net.
Dobson can attack at different speeds and with more weapons than you’d expect from a traditional point man. Better yet, he uses that flexibility to press as part of the team’s five-man offense rather than as a solo wanderer. Screens, tips, rebounds. Perpetual traffic. New York preaches strength in numbers.
The stats suggest this is a recipe for success. Dobson is fifth among blueliners in points. His 17 primary assists rank third behind Quinn Hughes and Victor Hedman. He’s logging five more minutes per game than last season and producing at a career-high rate:
This is a player who’s relishing the spotlight. Major minutes. Matchups against the best of the best. The responsibility of life as a #1 defenseman. By shedding the insulation he’s enjoyed for most of his career, he’s rising to new heights at both ends of the ice.
Dobson has drilled down on slot defense and point play this season—and less is proving to be more for the 2018 first-rounder. He’s never covered less ground, yet his value has never been greater.
Now that he’s found his bearings, he looks ready to lead the Islanders’ charge toward the playoffs.