Noah Dobson & Islanders: Agent Switch Signals Key Contract Talks Ahead

Noah Dobson has changed agents.

As reported earlier on Thursday, New York Islanders pending restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson has switched agents. He is now represented by Wasserman, with Olivier Fortier as the lead agent. 

Judd Moldaver, who represents Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, will also take a role in Dobson's representation. 

There's much speculation about what the agent switch means for Dobson and the Islanders. But, as my pal Jeff Marek said, you switch agents when you want to get something done.  

With the agent switch very recent, Dobson's new agency is likely getting acquainted with the 25-year-old's situation before sitting down with the Islanders to work on a new deal. 

The question is, what do those conversations lead to?

Do the Islanders want to commit to a long-term deal worth more than $8 million a year, or would they prefer a bridge deal? 

What does Dobson want?

After a 70-point campaign last season, with 10 goals and 60 assists, the Prince Edward Island native has just 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in 46 games this season. 

How much have his struggles, offensively and defensively, impacted his value within the organization?

He is currently on long-term injured reserve but should be able to get on the ice sometime next week. 

It is worth noting that Dobson does have arbitration rights, and the market value for a top offensive defenseman is likely somewhere around $8 to 10 million, given the exponential salary cap rise. 

I don't think that we're at the point where the Islanders are keen on trading Dobson, given his potential, unless it's for a big fish. 

But things can certainly change if he prices himself out. 

Following the 2020-21 season, his second year in the NHL, Dobson signed a three-year bridge deal worth $12 million ($4 million AAV). 

When I asked Lamoriello at the following press conference about why the team elected to go the bridge route over a long-term commitment, he said that they needed to see more. 

They saw more last season, that's for sure. But we have yet to see Dobson take strides defensively. 

Outside of Dobson, the Islanders have to decide on contracts for other restricted free agents: Alexander Romanov, Simon Holmstrom, Maxim Tsyplakov, Adam Boqvist, and Scott Perunovich.  

That doesn't include a potential extension to pending unrestricted free agent Brock Nelson, who the Islanders are hoping to keep, and Kyle Palmieri. 

The Islanders don't have much in the right-side defensemen pipeline and the jury is still out on Tony DeAngelo (pending UFA) and Adam Boqvist (pending RFA) fit going forward. 

But, their decisions on those two--we can throw left-side defenseman Scott Perunovich (pending RFA) into the mix as well--likely impact the Islanders' decision on Dobson's long-term future with the club. 

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