RD Noah Dobson - Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL (2018, 12th, NYI)

[Sparksrus3]

If the O doesn't come at the next level maybe we just have a nice Eric Brewer. Hopefully we keep him this time. I would be happy with that considering the way we draft D men over the last forever

 

[newfy]

I agree that he's not guaranteed anything. There's only one guaranteed 1st pairing D in this past draft. Heck, even some of the "guaranteed" 1st pairing D prospects of the past haven't become 1st pairing D's (Larsson, Bogosian).

Thats exactly what I was getting at. Great prospect but D are hard to guarantee anything about, even if theyr epicked number 1 like Chris Phillip or Erik Johnson. WHen theyre the 5th D picked in the draft it becomes even harder

 

[PWJunior]

If the O doesn't come at the next level maybe we just have a nice Eric Brewer. Hopefully we keep him this time. I would be happy with that considering the way we draft D men over the last forever

Dobson is probably the best d-man prospect we've had since Brewer. God, it's been forever since we've had someone with legit top pair upside.

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

Dobson is probably the best d-man prospect we've had since Brewer. God, it's been forever since we've had someone with legit top pair upside.

Pulock? Toews even won rookie of the year in the ahl

 

[PWJunior]

Pulock? Toews even won rookie of the year in the ahl

Pulock was a projected top pick before his draft year, his ranking fell and the gloss wasn't as shiny by the time we drafted him. Not trying to knock him though, thrilled with his development.

Reinhart was a mixed bag, the fan base wasn't jumping for joy universally when he was selected.

Dobson is in that 2nd tier group with Hughes/Boqvist/Bouchard. I personally had him at the top of that group. Hard to find any Isles fans upset with the pick. Haven't had that type of reaction from a drafted d-man since the days of Redden/Berard and Brewer.

Toews has yet to prove anything, have high hopes for him.

 

[boredmale]

Thats exactly what I was getting at. Great prospect but D are hard to guarantee anything about, even if theyr epicked number 1 like Chris Phillip or Erik Johnson.

Chris Phillips was picked first in a very weak draft class, the fact you can look at the draft and say yeah Chris Phillips was the right choice at #1 says it all.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

 

[Dominance]

I swear to you that this guy is the third best prospect in the draft. His calling card is his excellent defensive game, but evidently he is bursting with offensive talent. Just crazy that the Islanders got him and Wahlstrom - the latter of whom I saw as the fifth best prospect - at 11 and 12.

Just wait until he’s 200, 210, maybe even 215 pounds or more. He has the frame for it IMO and I’m pretty sure is still only 17.

 

[Bronson]

Can you cite some choice parts? I can't access that page from the EU.

 

[CodeE]

Can you cite some choice parts? I can't access that page from the EU.

Fellow defenseman John Schuldt tried to muscle past first-round pick Noah Dobson to get to the net from the left corner in a one-on-one drill on Wednesday during the Islanders’ prospect development camp at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.

Instead, Schuldt was driven below the goal line. Later, in a five-on-five drill contained to one zone, the righthanded Dobson, showing an ability to thread passes through tight spots, found defenseman David Quenneville with a behind-the-back feed to the left boards.

“He’s one of the guys who has stood out,” said Bridgeport (AHL) coach Brent Thompson, who is running the on-ice sessions.

It’s what the Islanders expect from the 6-3, 176-pound Dobson, a projected top-10 pick who slid to the Islanders at No. 12 at the NHL Draft in Dallas on Friday night.

The offensive-minded Dobson, who had 17 goals and 52 assists in 67 junior games for Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) last season, projects as a top-four NHL defenseman but with the hope that he can play on the top pair.

“I haven’t set a timeline,” Dobson said when asked about his NHL future. “I want to get stronger this summer and come into [training] camp and be able to compete against men and give them a hard decision not to send me back to juniors.”

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I swear to you that this guy is the third best prospect in the draft. His calling card is his excellent defensive game, but evidently he is bursting with offensive talent. Just crazy that the Islanders got him and Wahlstrom - the latter of whom I saw as the fifth best prospect - at 11 and 12.

Just wait until he’s 200, 210, maybe even 215 pounds or more. He has the frame for it IMO and I’m pretty sure is still only 17.

I joke that the Isles got it wrong. They should have taken Dobson at #11 and Wahlstrom at #12. I wouldn't bet against you being right. Of the big 4 D minus Dahlin in this draft, Dobson is the most complete. Frankly I don't think any of these teams picking the top 5 D men this draft are going to be unhappy. Crazy quality 5 pack this draft all within the top 12 picks.

Can you cite some choice parts? I can't access that page from the EU.

Code got the parts that caught my eye. Particularly the comments from Coach Thompson.

 

[PWJunior]

I swear to you that this guy is the third best prospect in the draft. His calling card is his excellent defensive game, but evidently he is bursting with offensive talent. Just crazy that the Islanders got him and Wahlstrom - the latter of whom I saw as the fifth best prospect - at 11 and 12.

Just wait until he’s 200, 210, maybe even 215 pounds or more. He has the frame for it IMO and I’m pretty sure is still only 17.

Turned 18 in January. He clearly needs to bulk up, especially in the upper body. If that's the main knock on him, I'll take it. The kid can actually play defense, something that can't be said for a lot of these offensive guys.

Positional value is huge, a big bonus to his stock. He's the heir apparent for Boychuk when he makes the NHL. Pulock will fill the top-4 and PP specialist role, I see Dobson as the all situations beast. If Wilde develops, that's a pretty devastating RD group.

Looking forward to him emerging at next year's WJC. I think he'll be the top pair RD because again, he can actually play defense.

 

[cowgirlcath]

Such a solid pick by the Islanders, can't believe he fell to 12th. Love the way he moves around the ice and his stick positioning and defending are top notch. The memorial cup shut down any questions about his ability to produce offense, he looked a threat almost every time he hit the ice. Could turn into a complete #1 Dman if he polishes his offensive game, especially his shot.

 

[Doublechin]

He was my number 3 guy overall and I stand by this.

 

[PWJunior]

Such a solid pick by the Islanders, can't believe he fell to 12th. Love the way he moves around the ice and his stick positioning and defending are top notch. The memorial cup shut down any questions about his ability to produce offense, he looked a threat almost every time he hit the ice. Could turn into a complete #1 Dman if he polishes his offensive game, especially his shot.

He looks like one of those 'sum is greater than the parts' types although he's got good tools across the board, but nothing that stands out as elite. His skating is quite good and you have to love his range due to his size. He's just so well rounded, profiles as an all situations beast who will munch minutes effortlessly.

I'll take that and run to the rink. He was my prospect crush this year and we got him. I had similar feelings towards Pietrangelo back in 2008 and it always bothered me that we missed out on him. This makes up for that.

 

[Dominance]

He was my number 3 guy overall and I stand by this.

Same here. And Wahlstrom at 5.

 

[lawrence]

Hinted several times that Dobson was the weakest link of the top 4 non Dhalin dmen.

not surprised he was the 5th dman taken, absolutely not. that said surprised, but shocked he was at 12. nice pick Isles.

 

[RipCityPuckers]

Who is a safer bet to become at least a future top 4 NHL D-man?

Quinn Hughes or Noah Dobson?

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Who is a safer bet to become at least a future top 4 NHL D-man?

Quinn Hughes or Noah Dobson?

Safer bet is definitely Dobson. Though I'd be very surprised if either of them busted completely. Both have different tools in the toolbox but both are very good young Dmen with very solid trajectory.


Hughes definitely has the higher pure upside but maybe a lower floor as well. Dobson's upside is that of Pietrangelo which is no doubt a strong #1D in the NHL. But Hughes has the upside of Karlsson if he can translate his playmaking and pushing the play to the NHL level like he does in College right now.

 

[PWJunior]

Safer bet is definitely Dobson. Though I'd be very surprised if either of them busted completely. Both have different tools in the toolbox but both are very good young Dmen with very solid trajectory.


Hughes definitely has the higher pure upside but maybe a lower floor as well. Dobson's upside is that of Pietrangelo which is no doubt a strong #1D in the NHL. But Hughes has the upside of Karlsson if he can translate his playmaking and pushing the play to the NHL level like he does in College right now.

Dobson profiles as a 3-zone player. He has the ability to shut down the play, retrieve the puck, start the transition, and contribute in the offensive zone. He may not be flashy, but he should have a big impact throughout the entire game. Out of the 2nd tier d-men, he is significantly better in the defensive zone than the other players. For that reason he is said to have the highest floor and the best chance to see his game transition to the NHL.

Hughes may have the higher offensive upside, but what's going to happen when he doesn't have the puck? I have concerns with his play in the defensive zone, just like I have concerns with Boqvist and Bouchard in that regard. I know the rage is to be in awe of the offensive brilliance, but there's something to be said for a defenseman being able to actually defend.

 

[Peeps]

Out of the 2nd tier d-men

What you mean? For me Dobson is the 2nd best dman of the draft. He is in the 1st tier dman of 2018.

Dahlin
Hughes
Boqvist
Bouchard
Dobson

All in tier 1

Then Miller Tychonick would be tier 2 to name those two.

Dobson is the most complete dman after Dahlin.

Produce in the reg season. Half a game per night. Same thing in the playoff. Same thing in the Mem Cup.

Will probably be captain of the Titan next year and be in the U20 squad.

I mean what do you want more from him?

 

[PWJunior]

What you mean? For me Dobson is the 2nd best dman of the draft. He is in the 1st tier dman of 2018.

Dahlin
Hughes
Boqvist
Bouchard
Dobson

All in tier 1

Then Miller Tychonick would be tier 2 to name those two.

Dobson is the most complete dman after Dahlin.

Produce in the reg season. Half a game per night. Same thing in the playoff. Same thing in the Mem Cup.

Will probably be captain of the Titan next year and be in the U20 squad.

I mean what do you want more from him?

No offense meant to Dobson, I just had Dahlin in his own tier at the top. Tier 2 includes Dobson, Hughes, Boqvist, and Bouchard in that order for me.

I agree with your whole post. I love Dobson too, wasn't trying to denigrate him at all.

 

[Elias Pettersson]

Said this in Hughes thread but Dobson definitely safer projection to be top 4

I think he's the safest pick to be at least a decent NHL defencemen of all the non-dahlin D prospects. He has no weaknesses at all in his game and looks like Alex Pietrangelo projection.

 

[Peeps]

No offense meant to Dobson, I just had Dahlin in his own tier at the top. Tier 2 includes Dobson, Hughes, Boqvist, and Bouchard in that order for me.

I agree with your whole post. I love Dobson too, wasn't trying to denigrate him at all.

Haha amazing! Dahlin is OP. Np

 

[saintunspecified]

The Bouchard vs. Dobson comparison will continue to be interesting as time goes on. While they have similarities, they have some very different strengths, they played in very different situations, and have very different backgrounds (Oakville vs PEI seem like different worlds). Also we'll never really know who NYI liked more - only who Edmonton liked more.

I'd have taken Hughes (and obviously Dahlin) before Dobson, but he was my choice after those.