Noah Dobson’s Contract Is Limited, But What Should He Do Now?
- By Arthur
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Noah Dobson is an exciting prospect who may be on the verge of a breakout season. The young defenseman is a versatile player who has the potential to become a star in the NHL. In addition to his offensive numbers, Dobson’s limited contract has other implications, including the remaining salary cap space and his relationship with teammate Zdeno Chara.
Noah Dobson’s contract is limited
Noah Dobson’s contract is limited, but what should he do now? The young defenseman has blossomed into one of the top young defensemen in the NHL. In just his second season in the NHL, Dobson scored 13 goals and 51 points, while averaging nearly 22 minutes per night. If you consider his performance in the context of the 2021-22 season, you’ll see that it’s hard to argue with that kind of production.
Dobson is in the final year of his contract and will become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The Islanders will likely place a high priority on keeping Dobson for as long as possible, especially since they have most of their core players under contract.
The Islanders should try to keep Dobson under contract for a few more years because he has developed into a valuable piece of the roster. With his defensive skills and the ability to make plays from point, Dobson can be a strong addition to the team. As long as he stays healthy and continues to improve, he should earn a long-term contract.
The Islanders will have approximately $11.1 million in cap space before signing any new players. They have been linked to Johnny Gaudreau and Nazem Kadri, but were unable to sign them. They also signed Dobson to a new contract. Dobson has played well on the bottom defense pairing this year, and he has improved his defense as the season progressed.
Dobson’s limited contract will allow the Islanders to spend more money on improving their offense. However, it also provides the team with more salary cap flexibility and requires Dobson to improve his offensive game. While the contract is modest at $4 million AAV, it will still give the team flexibility.
While Dobson’s contract is limited, it is still worth the potential upside. Dobson is just 22 years old, so he will continue to improve defensively and offensively. With time on his side, he could be a point-per-game defenceman in the near future. If he can stay healthy, he will have the opportunity to hit the unrestricted free agent threshold.
Dobson’s offensive numbers
Noah Dobson’s offensive numbers have continued to climb in his first NHL season. He set personal bests in goals, shots, and games played in a 5-2 loss to the Kings on Monday, and he has six assists in his last seven games. The right winger’s recent success is also helping him increase his plus-plus rating, and he’s on pace to reach 50 points this season.
In addition to his solid offensive numbers, Dobson is an excellent defensive player. His mobility makes him a formidable backcheck option and he has the awareness to read defensive zone players. He can also come down the ice and pokecheck opponents from a mile away. His passing ability and reads could still improve, but his overall game is already solid. Dobson is capable of converting defense into offence in an instant.
Noah Dobson has a significant upside and was a bright spot for the Islanders during the 2021-22 season. Unfortunately, a team’s 11-game winless streak ended their realistic playoff hopes, but his offensive numbers were so strong that Dobson was recently signed to a three-year contract extension with an AAV of $4M per season.
Noah Dobson had 13:52 of ice time against the Hurricanes on Friday, but did not take a shot. He also had an assist on the power play in the third period. Dobson has points in three straight games and eight in his last 10 games. So far, his offensive numbers continue to rise and he is one of the best players on the Islanders.
While Dobson’s offensive numbers are improving, his role remains the same: creating opportunities for teammates. As a result, he’s expected to score 24.8 goals next season, up from 19 in his first season. In short, Dobson is a sneaky play in the 2022-23 season.
Dobson’s offensive numbers continue to rise, but he has been a healthy scratch throughout November and December. In January, he had the fifth-highest scoring total in the Islanders’ lineup. He has been the Islanders’ best point-producing defenseman from the point, and he has also improved on the man-advantage. He has one power-play goal and five power-play points this season.
Dobson’s salary cap space
The Kings are expected to re-sign Noah Dobson in the coming months. The restricted free agent signed a three-year deal last August. He’s not likely to earn a long-term deal and will not be eligible for most of the bonuses. Nonetheless, his signing may increase the Kings’ salary cap space.
Dobson, 24, has been a standout on the bottom defensive pairing for the Islanders this season. He has accumulated 40 points on the season, making him the first Islander defenseman to reach that mark since Nick Leddy in 2017-18. He’s also improved his defense as the year progressed. While he’s not a top scorer, he’s a good contributor and is due for a new deal.
If the Islanders are looking to lock Dobson down in the long-term, Lamoriello could offer him a longer contract. However, he could end up overpaying the young defenseman. A deal worth $8 million per season seems reasonable, given Dobson’s recent production. The Islanders still have about $12 million in cap space to use on another player.
The Islanders have signed three restricted free agents this offseason. Dobson signed a three-year deal with the team, while Alexander Romanov and Kieffer Bellows signed one-year deals. While Dobson’s deal is worth $4 million per year, Alexander Romanov’s is worth $2.5 million per year. It sets him up to hit restricted free agency again before he turns 27. Kieffer Bellows, on the other hand, signed a one-year deal for just $1.2 million.
The New York Islanders are in the market for a top forward. However, the team’s main goal this offseason is to lock up its core defensemen. The team can do this by offering another contract to Noah Dobson and Mathew Barzal. This will free up more cap space for the team to add new players in the offseason.
Dobson’s relationship with Zdeno Chara
Noah Dobson’s relationship with Zdono Chara is growing. Despite their age difference, the pair is growing together. In fact, the pair was on the same Zoom call when the Islanders announced the contract extensions for both players. The two are close friends and were teammates at CSKA Moscow.
Chara has been a mentor for young Islanders defensemen, and Dobson is learning from him. Chara is an old pro who has won a Stanley Cup, and he’ll help Noah Dobson develop his game. While he won’t teach him how to handle the puck, Chara will help him learn how to make risky offensive plays.
Chara is in his third season in the NHL, but Noah Dobson was born two years before him. Both are now playing together on the Islanders’ blue line. Chara, who turned pro in 1997, is a former fisherman who spent his entire career playing alongside proven veterans. Noah Dobson also spent last season playing alongside Andy Greene. While Greene is a relative spring chicken when compared to Chara, he was a steady presence on the Devils’ blue line for 14 years.
Although Noah and Chara broke up at the beginning of the season, they reunited in the spring and things got better. Since then, Dobson has become a rising star in the Islanders’ organization. This season, Dobson has been on the ice for five of the team’s seven goals, including the overtime game-winner against Edmonton on New Year’s Day. With his nine assists, Dobson is now one of the Islanders’ most dynamic players.
The goalie and defender are not on the same page. Neither is comfortable playing together. Chara stayed close to the goal line. In fact, Chara pushed Dobson, forcing him to make a last-minute decision to shoot. Chara has been a solid player for the Capitals. During his time with the team, he averaged 18:19 minutes of ice time per game.