What Could Noah Dobson’s Next Contract Look Like?
As the 2022 National Hockey League offseason begins, the Islanders will be in an interesting position. As the team looks to recover from a season which saw them fall flat early, some of the team’s flaws were apparent on offense and on the back end. With the team looking to upgrade at those positions, the team will have $12.25 million in cap space to make something work, and that number could go up barring any potential trades. The team doesn’t have many restricted free agents (RFAs) to worry about this offseason, but one notable RFA due for a contract is Noah Dobson.
After two seasons on the bottom defense pair for the Islanders, the 22 year old has made massive strides in all facets. Dobson has 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points, and he is the first Islanders’ defenseman to reach 40 points in a season since Nick Leddy in 2017-18. Also, his defense has made strides as the year has progressed. However, Noah Dobson is due for a new contract, so what could his new deal look like?
The Term
The term for his contract is more than likely going to be a bridge deal. With Dobson having four years until he can be an unrestricted free agent, he might be able to get one more contract before he hits the threshold. Also, if his progression continues, his next deal could be near equal in value to Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech depending on his growth. However, before then, he will have to sign a short term deal to take him to that time.
The strategy has been used by the Islanders in the past for both Pulock and Pelech. Following Pelech’s first contract expiration in 2017, he signed a four year deal that kept his RFA eligability until last offseason, and Pelech got a big payout on his next deal. Despite a bad first season, his development under Trotz saw him become one of the best defensemen in hockey and convert it to an eight year extension in 2021. Pulock was in the same situation, as after a two year deal in 2018, he gelled under Trotz and turned his performance into an eight year contract of his own following another two year bridge. As a result, considering the success of bridge deals for two of their top defensemen, Noah Dobson could likely follow this trend and get a two or three year contract as a result.
The Salary
On his first contract, Dobson had a cap hit just under $900,000 ($894,167), and that number will likely go up due to his progression. When comparing the numbers of his teammates, Pelech made $6.4 million on his contract, good for a $1.9 million cap hit. Also, Pulock signed two different bridge deals under Lou Lamoriello, with his first clocking in at two years for $2 million a year. His second saw his payout go up to $5 million average for two seasons, but the latter deal made him a UFA at its completion. As a result, his salary per year could likely end up in the $2-2.5 million range once everything is settled.
As a result, the answer for Dobson will most likely be a bridge deal. With Dobson having time until reaching UFA status, he will likely get a two or three year deal to give him another chance for a payout in the near future. Also since he is starting up his development curve, he probably will get something similar to what Pulock and Pelech got on their first deals. With this in mind, a fair expectation could be a two year, $2.2 million dollar deal is what is best for both parties. It gives Dobson a chance to continue to grow and earn another payout in the near future, while it also gives the Islanders enough room to keep pushing for acquisitions in the offseason.
I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.
