Noah Dobson has arguably been the most improved player on the Islanders this season. He went from being a healthy scratch in November to having the fifth-most points on the team in January. Let’s take a look at Dobson’s success this season and see how he compares to some of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL.

Noah Dobson 

This season, Dobson has emerged as an offensive defenseman, something the Islanders were lacking in previous seasons. In 32 games, he has scored five goals and registered nine assists. Dobson has also been an asset on the man-advantage, recording one power-play goal and five power-play points.  

Charlie McAvoy 

At only 24-years-old, Charlie McAvoy is considered one of the best defensemen in the NHL and he is the face of the Boston Bruins’ defense.

Dobson (32 GP) and McAvoy (35 GP) have put up very similar numbers in the 2021-22 NHL season thus far. McAvoy has six goals, one more than Dobson’s five. Dobson has recorded 78 shots on goal for a 6.4 shooting percentage, while McAvoy has a shooting percentage of 8.5 with 71 shots on goal.

Like McAvoy, Dobson has the potential to be the offensive leader on the Islanders’ backend for years to come.

Adam Fox 

With Dobson suddenly becoming an offensive-minded defenseman this season, it is only fitting to compare him to Adam Fox (42 GP). The New York Rangers’ defenseman was the recipient of the James Norris Memorial Trophy for his play during the 2020-21 NHL season.

Just like Dobson and McAvoy, Fox also scored at least five goals this season — he has seven. While Dobson may not be at the offensive level Fox is at considering Fox has 45 points while Dobson only has 14, Dobson plays a much more physical game. Fox has been credited with 21 hits this season while Dobson has nearly double that with 40.

Fox is an amazing defenseman, but Dobson is right behind him.

Victor Hedman 

Victor Hedman (43 GP) is undeniably one of the best defensemen in the NHL. He won the Norris Trophy after the 2017-18 season and won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning the last two years. The Lightning are nearly halfway through their season and Hedman has already recorded 44 points (9-35—44). 

The Isles don’t have anyone putting up the numbers that Hedman does. Mathew Barzal is the Islanders’ points leader and he only has 24 points. However, defensively, Dobson has numbers relatively close to Hedman’s. 

With 67 blocks, Dobson is averaging 2.09 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Hedman is only averaging 1.23 blocks per game with 53 blocks total.

Sure, Dobson is in his own end much more than Hedman, as he is playing with Zdeno Chara, but defensively, the 21-year-old has improved drastically this season

Dobson’s Future Is Bright  

This is only the second season that Dobson has been a regular in an NHL lineup and he is already comparable to some of the best defensemen in the league. If Dobson continues to grow his game both offensively and defensively, being named a Norris Trophy finalist could definitely be in his future. 

Maisy Healy

I am a huge Islanders fan and love spreading my passion for the team here at Drive4Five.  Along with writing, I also co-manage the Drive4Five TikTok and Facebook accounts.