There’s a saying that numbers don’t lie.
When it comes to Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson, the numbers show that he continues to ascend up the list of NHL blueliners and all you have to do is look at data since he was taken 12th overall by the Islanders in the 2018 NHL Draft.
IN 2019-20, Dobson played 34 games during his rookie season tallying 1 goal and 6 assists for 7 points. The following year, he has 3 goals and 11 assists for 14 points over 46 games. Then came a breakout year in 2021-22 when he had 13 goals and 38 assists for 51 points in 80 games. In 2022-23, Dobson played in 78 games racking up 13 goals and 35 assists for 49 points.
And then came last season.
The native of Summerside, PEI in Canada was in the Norris Trophy discussion with career highs in assists (60) and point (70) in 79 games. He joined Hall of Famer Denis Potvin as the only defensemen in Islanders history to reach 60 assists in a season.
Dobson had a heck of a season.
“It was a good year last year,” said Dobson after the first day of training camp on Thursday. “I felt like I made a lot of steps in the right direction and areas. I had a great summer and I feel really good and ready to go. I just want to continue to take steps and be a big part of the group here.”
And as Islanders training camp got underway this week at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, Dobson and the Islanders have begun preparations for the 2024-25 season. Dobson raised the bar in terms of expectations with his performance last season.
There is certainly a lot of hype around Dobson this season. He’s cracked the “NHL Top 50 Players Right Now” list coming in at number 48.
So, how does he take another step this year?
“I think honestly just the overall game,” said the 6-4 200-pound Dobson. “I enjoy the putting the time in the off-season finding ways to keep getting better whether it’s in the gym or on the ice I think there’s always areas to keep improving. That’s been my goal…have a good camp and be ready to for game one.”
The Islanders’ pre-season schedule gets underway on Monday when they take on the Devils at Prudential Center. After a six-game pre-season slate, the Islanders will open up the 2024-25 season on October 10th against Utah at UBS Arena.
After back-to-back first-round playoff losses to the Carolina Hurricanes, Dobson and the Islanders are looking for bigger and better things this season and that would include a quick start.
“We want to get over that hump,” said Dobson. “I think it’s important for us to get off to a good start. We’ve been chasing it down the stretch the last couple of years. I think coming out of the gates, having a really good camp and building each day and hopefully have a good start.”
Dobson is a big part of the Islanders’ strong defense group that also includes Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield, Alex Romanov, Mike Reilly and Sam Bolduc.
After a longer than desired off-season, the Islanders are pumped up for the first training camp under Patrick Roy who took over as Head Coach during last season.
“I think we’re all excited to get going,” said Dobson.
Noah Dobson made that remark after Roy made the Islanders conclude practice with “bag skates” or “gassers” as they would say in football. If you’re still not sure what that means, just watch the scene in the movie “Miracle” when USA Head Coach Herb Brooks made the Olympic team skate “AGAIN” and “AGAIN” and “AGAIN”.
After Dobson compares notes with former Islanders defenseman Ken Morrow, who was on that 1980 USA team, he’ll use the rest of training camp to get better and help the Islanders take the next collective step this coming season.