Appreciating an Underappreciated Noah Dobson
This week we celebrate the first anniversary of Noah Dobson's three-year contract, which he signed last year at this time. Stan Fischler shares his thoughts on the young defenseman.
This week we celebrate the first anniversary of Noah Dobson's three-year contract, which he signed last year at this time.
I don't know about you, but I'm planning to celebrate by giving the New York Islanders 23-year-old defenseman some love.
The Maven's method is reality personified -- reviewing critical comments while examining the Maritimer's game, then; and with the future in mind.
Or, to put it another way, the native of Summerside (By The Sea), Prince Edward Island, simply was a victim of the hoary (because I keep using it) "Build-Up-To-A-Letdown" theory.
Dobby enjoyed such a fruitful rookie season in 2021-22 that the sky was supposed to be the limit for him this past term.
Well, the smiling sophomore tallied 13 goals in 78 games. Not too bad, I say.
Take Moritz Seider as a basis of comparison. In Detroit, Seider is glowingly regarded as the Second Coming of Captain Marvel. Yet over 82 games, he was more like Billy Batson.
Mo, c'mon. Only five goals. That's a good -- or should I say bad -- eight goals behind my guy. who finished at a plus-4 compared to Seider's minus-11.
Of course, Friends of the Blueshirts -- yes, they do have friends -- might say, "Why don't you compare Dobson with our K'Andre Miller?" So, I will, chaps, I will.
Miller played in 78 games and scored four fewer goals than Noah, two fewer assists, and six fewer points. K'Andre did, however, wind up with a laudable plus-12.
But enough with the numbers.
In terms of Dobber's critics, the only man who counts is his boss Lou Lamoriello. And based on the Boss' last recorded comment, Lou has no compunctions about signing Dobson's checks.
"There was too much criticism of Dobson," Double L asserted at his end-of-season media melee. "Check his point production. He's got a great mindset."
Was Noah affected by the sophomore slump for which there is no known vaccine?
Well, you could say so if you were a hard-nosed critic. Even Dobson allowed that he buffeted waves when the tide was harsh.
"Some things came easy to me, and something's were harder," he allowed. "There were ebbs and flows." (Sounds like Jones Beach yesterday.)
Granted that Dobson occasionally suffered in his own end. Who doesn't? Norris Trophy-winner Erik Karlsson? (minus-26.)
Dobber also had issues with the -- all-team soft -- power play. "It was a matter of things not going our way," Noah explained.
But there were five guys on the power play and, besides, that was then: now we're looking ahead to the 2023-24 marathon.
Or, as Larrupin' Lou put it: "We have high expectations from Dobson."
So does the Maven. Plus, I have confidence in Noah as well!
Happy Contract Anniversary, pal.
P.S. Next time I see Dobber, I'm gonna ask him if he knows that Prince Edward Island is named after Britain's Prince Edward of Kent, who became the future father of famed Queen Victoria. (I'm sure he'll know the answer.)