Value of: Noah Dobson

[impaaaaaact]

With Kaplan reporting that the Isles are sellers, most will think of their pending UFAs Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri to be moved out. But the Isles also have some interesting RFAs, including Alex Romanov, Simon Holmstrom, Max Tsyplakov, and Noah Dobson.

All four of them have earned raises that will eat up a good chunk of the cap space created by trading Nelson and Palmieri. I think it’s possible the Isles deal one in order to go big game hunting this offseason. Especially with Dobson out injured and already away from the team + probably due the largest contract, it’s easiest for me to imagine them moving on from him.

So what’s his value? He’s a 6’4 RHD who scores 50ish a year (last year’s 70 seems like an outlier), and can play 24 minutes a night. Loses his defensive assignment often. Probably cost himself some money this year, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t regain form after the injury. What’s he worth to your team?

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[Zeeker]

With Kaplan reporting that the Isles are sellers

Is there evidence she reported this yet or a game of telephone gone wrong?

 

[impaaaaaact]

Is there evidence she reported this yet or a game of telephone gone wrong?

you’re right, I just read it on the other board but didn’t see it myself. Isles win another 5 in a row and who knows what they do.

but right now, it’s pretty clear that they aren’t going to contend down their top two RHD and both backup goalies and already out of a playoff spot. It’s been a lost season, attendance is in the gutter. The report makes sense to me (if it exists)

 

[Captain Mountain]

Is there anything being reported about his plans on his next contract? Because he's RFA and a year away from UFA eligibility, and his willingness to re-sign with the Islanders and/or another team would significantly affect his value.

 

[impaaaaaact]

Is there anything being reported about his plans on his next contract? Because he's RFA and a year away from UFA eligibility, and his willingness to re-sign with the Islanders and/or another team would significantly affect his value.

Nothing reported on his plans. A few of our beat reporters were reporting 8x8 was a deal to look out for in the preseason, but he was not playing to that level before the injury which kind of throws a wrench into things.

 

[SI90]

You don’t just trade a defensman like Dobson.

 

[Barsky]

You don’t just trade a defensman like Dobson.

Ok, the same could said about Rantanen though.

 

[CanMerc]

WPG will definitely have interest

 

[leeroggy]

WPG will definitely have interest

Dobson
Danny Nelson
for
Perfetti
Salomonsson
2026 2nd

 

[SI90]

Ok, the same could said about Rantanen though.

Completely different situations.

Rantanen is a mega star who’s a pending UFa and looking for a huge payday. AVS have another mega star in Mackinnon and Makar for that matter who they have to pay.

Dobson is a pending RFA and the isles don’t have anything on the current team or in the system that can do what he does. At24 years old he had the isles highest point totals (70pt) in a season since Potvin.

Hes 6’4 right handed shot defensemen who can skate and put up offense. Those don’t grow on trees. He definitely still has to round out his defensive game but the good far outweighs the bad.

 

[Barsky]

Completely different situations.

Rantanen is a mega star who’s a pending UFa and looking for a huge payday. AVS have another mega star in Mackinnon and Makar for that matter who they have to pay.

Dobson is a pending RFA and the isles don’t have anything on the current team or in the system that can do what he does. At24 years old he had the isles highest point totals (70pt) in a season since Potvin.

Hes 6’4 right handed shot defensemen who can skate and put up offense. Those don’t grow on trees. He definitely still has to round out his defensive game but the good far outweighs the bad.

D that are all offense and "still need to round out their defense" do grow on trees more than you think and his offense is nowhere near last year's output. Signing him long term to big money without knowing if he's a Weber or a Jones carries significant risk, so trading him is not remotely out of the question, even old man Lou knows that

 

[impaaaaaact]

You don’t just trade a defensman like Dobson.

D that are all offense and "still need to round out their defense" do grow on trees more than you think and his offense is nowhere near last year's output. Signing him long term to big money without knowing if he's a Weber or a Jones carries significant risk, so trading him is not remotely out of the question, even old man Lou knows that

This is my thought process around him possibly being dangled. I personally think the isles can spend that 7M-ish elsewhere, or not at all.

 

[Barsky]

This is my thought process around him possibly being dangled. I personally think the isles can spend that 7M-ish elsewhere, or not at all.

Exactly, I would be very worried given his offensive regression and he could be worth far more as trade bait. GM's LOVE their big RD's, especially ones that can shoot and dealing him could be a blessing in disguise. I don't think 7 would do it anyway but VERY curious to see what Bouchard re-signs for, cause that'll be Dobber's best comparable

 

[impaaaaaact]

WPG will definitely have interest

What does WPG have on the block?

 

[Napoli]

Columbus should be interested. What are the Islanders looking for? Columbus has Min 1st and a lot of good young players to base a deal around.

 

[impaaaaaact]

Columbus should be interested. What are the Islanders looking for? Columbus has Min 1st and a lot of good young players to base a deal around.

Would be hard to deal him in division, but a bunch of good young players is probably the ask. Building a foundation with upside, helping to retool the team.

Lou decimated our prospect pool so we don’t have much in the pipeline to help plug the holes as our vets age off the roster. It’s very possible that 3 of our top 6 and our third line center will all be gone after 2026, and we’ll be in a position to hopefully fill 2 of those spots internally.

I’d say probably the goal of trading Dobson would be to acquire a center that can help mitigate the impending loss of Brock Nelson

 

[CanMerc]

Dobson
Danny Nelson
for
Perfetti
Salomonsson
2026 2nd

That’s a hard one…
Perfetti I’m ok with moving, but Salomonsson is hard to give up. Dobson would have to agree to extend in WPG before I even thought about this or it would be a no sale before it started.
Jets are in win now mode, so holding on to Salomonsson over getting Dobson would be counter productive when we mostly hope Salomonsson develops into a Dobson.
But I’m likely in the minority there…I think we should go all in.

Don’t know anything about Danny Nelson, what’s his game like

 

[CanMerc]

What does WPG have on the block?

Nothing that would take away from our current core and Yager and Solomonsson are likely considered almost untouchable… I’d, personally, add Lambert to the top of the untouchable list, but that’s me…I really like Lambert.

 

[impaaaaaact]

That’s a hard one…
Perfetti I’m ok with moving, but Salomonsson is hard to give up. Dobson would have to agree to extend in WPG before I even thought about this or it would be a no sale before it started.
Jets are in win now mode, so holding on to Salomonsson over getting Dobson would be counter productive when we mostly hope Salomonsson develops into a Dobson.
But I’m likely in the minority there…I think we should go all in

tough one for us too. would be easier if the second was a first or Nelson wasn’t involved.

If we both don’t love it does that mean it’s… fair??

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

*Kent Hughes of the Montreal Canadiens has entered the chat*

 

[Adam da bomb]

tough one for us too. would be easier if the second was a first or Nelson wasn’t involved.

If we both don’t love it does that mean it’s… fair??

A 1st, perfetti, salo would be do-able if Dobson was willing to sign long term with wpg at a fair price. If he isn’t then it doesn’t work.

 

[hurdemz]

All these weak offers. Dobson is untouchable. Plain and simple. One of the best D in the league, and RHD at that. Big, can skate, defend and put up huge numbers.

Theres no reason for NYI to trade him. You build teams around these types of guys.

 

[Richard88]

Colorado need a RHD, either at this years deadline, or at the very latest by 2026 when Manson's contract ends. There's nobody in the pipeline at RHD to fill that role, and although Malinski is promising he just ain't that guy.

The Avs are in the West which is a plus from NYI's perspective. But Lou might be a bit hesitant to trade another Dman to Colorado after how Toews turned out.

Dobson would obviously be another big get to pair with Girard on the 2nd pairing, but I'm not sure the Avs have a big enough asset to win the bidding war that will inevitably happen should Dobson be dangled on the market.

Calum Ritchie, Gulyayev, Behrens, 2026 1st, and two 2025 2nd's would be the best non-roster assets the Avs have to deal with. In terms of roster pieces Malinski and Colton would probably be the obvious pieces to include. I would guess that Nichushkin might be a piece the Avs would listen on too given his history. Does any of that interest NYI?

 

[impaaaaaact]

All these weak offers. Dobson is untouchable. Plain and simple. One of the best D in the league, and RHD at that. Big, can skate, defend and put up huge numbers.

Theres no reason for NYI to trade him. You build teams around these types of guys.

Anybody who has watched Dobson over a long period of time will tell you that he’s not a player that you build around. He’s a very good defenseman whose plusses outweigh his minuses, but he’s more of a #3 defenseman than a top pairing guy. He’s tall but doesn’t play big. “Can Defend” is borderline hilarious.

He makes plays and will score 10-15 goals a year. The athletic cards that came out today put his value at around 8M a year, which is probably what he’ll get. He’s not a #1 defenseman though.

 

[squashmaple]

Columbus should be interested. What are the Islanders looking for? Columbus has Min 1st and a lot of good young players to base a deal around.

Yes, a team with Zach Werenski should definitely be spending major assets to acquire an extreme offensive defenseman from a division rival. Nevermind that Zach Werenski's presence completely neuters Dobson's role (PP1 and 1D minutes).