I've been starting to get on my prospects watching horse of late, and truth be told, I'm having more trouble than I thought finding guys I unabashedly like, even up high. A lot of hyped guys have given me disappointing watches or sore spots in their games. I could write some short stuff another time about some guys. But I've been silent for awhile so thought I'd write a blurb about my thoughts on Noah Dobson (RD) since he was on TV today for many, and I do unabashedly like him. I feel good saying right now he is likely my #3 d-man. Most scouting services still have him ~#15+, but that will change and soon. Beginning of the year, I thought he could be a St. Louis pick, now he's in contention for OUR pick, if we draft top 10........and we still might miss him.
As some know, I really value consistency and IQ and controlling play, which are all linked. Dobson is the type of player you can watch a couple viewings and come away impressed and confident he's a good player, but you keep watching and watching, and there's no bend to his game. Ever. In shifts, in games. He's a true 3-zone play controller from the back end. Those are not common. If you named Hampus Lindholm as a potential comparison, I'd think that's not half-bad.
I compared Mattias Samuelsson, in some ways, to Dobson a while ago, and in some aspects that's true (DZ/NZ) -- and Mattias is a solid player in his own right -- but Dobson is a more willing offensive player who wants to be the one to make plays. That's the difference to me that vaults him up. He wants to be The Guy, either trailing the rush or in the o-zone. Perhaps playing on a less deep blue-line where he can do so factors in, but so be it. Better on the PP too.
Now, I don't think he possesses projectable "high end" o-zone skills, like a few others in contention in that area of the draft. He's a good, fluid skater at 6'3 and can get a head of steam, but he's not Sanheim (or Myers) either, especially in the footwork. Won't walk the line or anything or do a ton of creative stuff. He shoots a metric ton and has a good shot (loves wristing them), but a lot of them are from far away and not exactly danger areas, though he pops up at times down low when you don't expect. His low scoring numbers for how many shots he takes aren't entirely fluky (certainly a bit!) in that he's a volume guy more than anything. But he gets them on net constantly and picks up a ton of greasy opportunities for his forwards with his shot. He's got good feel and the ability to create chances with it. That's sort of how I'd describe Provy too fwiw, though Ivan is a bit better skater, especially laterally.
Excellent passer too, especially in transition, where he always always looks for the controlled exit and can use his body or stickhandling to create one even when there isn't. Gaps are tight, pinches are smart, defense is lock down, and he uses his body well to separate players in tight (maybe not quite as well as Samuelsson, but Dobson isn't as heavy), and has every single piece that could make up a top pair, all situation play driver. He plays like a total pro. Again, he won't blow you away with highlight stuff or in single viewings. What he is is effective as hell and all the time.