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.”