EXCLUSIVE: Islanders Dobson Seeks Consistent Confidence To Round Out Game

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson discusses his play so far this season and how important confidence has been for him in this exclusive interview with Stefen Rosner.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- Confidence is a dangerous thing. When things are going well in one aspect of life, that confidence tends to seep into other areas. 

But confidence is a double-edged sword as when things aren't going wrong, whether it be job-related or something personal, it tends to negatively affect other parts of life. 

That battle with confidence is something that has affected New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson.

The now 23-year-old blue-liner burst onto the scene offensively during the 2021-22 season, scoring 13 goals with 38 assists. 

He followed up that breakout season with another 13-goal campaign, with 36 assists in 2022-23.

However, since breaking into the NHL in 2019, Dobson's play on the defensive side of the puck has needed work, especially his play behind and in front of his net.

The Islanders tried solidifying Dobson with first-year Islander Alexander Romanov a year ago, but with Romanov's struggles adapting to a new system and Dobson's defensive play, that pairing was separated rather quickly.

Romanov found his game alongside Ryan Pulock, while Dobson played a ton with Sebastian Aho as the Islanders' third pairing before Adam Pelech returned after missing over 20 games with a head injury.

The defensive struggles persisted with Dobson, making this summer a critical one.

In the Islanders opening-night affair against the Buffalo Sabres to kick off the 2023-24 season, Dobson was on the ice for both Sabres goals in a 3-2 win, with a giveaway. 

But Dobson has looked much better in his own zone since the first game of the regular season. 

Over the next four games heading into Thursday night's game against the Ottawa Senators, Dobson has been on the ice for four goals against at five-on-five, but Adam Pelech has struggled mightily, and that's played a part. 

Dobson has turned the puck over twice in those four games. 

The Hockey News sat down with Dobson following Tuesday's morning skate to get his take on his defensive play, how confidence impacts everything, and more. 

What plagued Dobson defensively was he always seemed to be overthinking. Hockey is such a fast game, and there's very little time to think.

The strong defenders don't think. They just react, and that's what Dobson has put his focus on. 

"Just been trying to be responsible on that side of the puck," Dobson told The Hockey News. "Just making better reads at times. I think it just comes from having good summer training and getting stronger where you're more confident in the corners, with battles and stuff like that. 

"So it's been a mixture of a few things, but it's been a decent start on that sort of stuff, and I just got to continue to take steps in that area and keep getting better."

At the end of last season, Islanders veteran defenseman Ryan Pulock was asked about what he saw from Dobson regarding confidence. 

"I've been in this league for a while now, and I've had some success at times, and you're gonna have ups and downs throughout the years," Pulock said. "And I think it's just finding a way of working through that and finding your confidence. A lot of times, I feel like with a player like Dobson, being a skilled offensive guy, a lot of it can depend on your confidence and how you're feeling that way. 

"Sometimes it's tough to get back, and you have to work that much harder to get it back, and you have to focus much more on the little things of the game, maybe away from the game, that can help you, and I think, he maybe he wasn't his best all season, but he's still young. He's still growing. He's learning [...] I think it's important for him to just regroup this summer and get ready for next year, whether that be off the ice getting stronger or just focusing mentally on the right things, and I think he'll come back next year and have a great year."

For Dobson, confidence is critical. 

"Confidence is everything. When you're playing with confidence, you're not thinking. You are just going out playing, trusting your instincts, just letting the game come to you," Dobson told THN. "And that's a big thing with every player, myself, especially the young players. When you start thinking too much, that's when you get yourself in trouble, and you can lose confidence. 

"But I think right now my thing is just finding that zone where I'm playing confident. I'm not thinking too much, and I'm just going out and using my instincts."

It's not a surprise that since Dobson's defensive play has improved here in the early part of the season, his offense has come alive.

He's riding a four-game point streak entering Thursday night, with one goal and four assists over that span. 

"When you're expected to produce and are able to produce, you get confidence off that," Dobson said. "It doesn't weigh on you. You kind of feel good, but I think the main thing for me is when I'm taking care of the other end of the rink and being strong defensively, breaking the puck out well, then the offense comes and feeds off that, so they go hand in hand. 

"I think when you're playing well on the defensive end, you get rewarded on the other, so I think that's just a focus of mine, just continue to be responsible on both ends, and the offense will come."

While the Islanders power play, in which Dobson quarterbacks the first unit, is operating at just 12.5 percent (2-for-16) out of the gate, Dobson has looked much stronger at the point over the last few games. 

He's notched an assist on both power-play goals, the primary on Mathew Barzal's one-time dagger against the Arizona Coyotes, which served as the game-winner, and the secondary assist on Kyle Palmieri's power-play goal against the Colorado Avalanche. 

"Yeah, I mean, I feel like we've had lots of good looks," Dobson said. "It was nice to get one last game. And I think, as a unit, we are just more in sync. We know where we're going before we're getting the puck, so it's happening quicker and opening things up.

"I think the main thing for me is I just gotta make sure I'm finding ways to give the guys on the half wall better looks, maybe more time by using deception or knowing where the pucks going. So, I feel like it's been decent to start the year here. We haven't necessarily got the results we wanted in some games, but I feel like it's going in the right direction. It's only a matter of time, I feel like until we really get on a roll here."

With Scott Mayfield out of the lineup due to a lower-body injury, Dobson has stepped up on the penalty kill, playing a total of 7:49 thus far.

Despite New York's penalty kill allowing five power-play goals over the last three games, including four to the New Jersey Devils last Friday, Dobson has been on the ice for just one goal.

He's enjoyed playing on the kill, something he said he wanted to play more of this season. 

"It's been good. I mean, it's something I've done periodically here and there. But I think the main thing is it's kinda different based on the team you're playing," Dobson said. "There's times as a right defenseman where you're playing the two-on-one low or the two-on-one in the slots, so just stuff like that, details that kind of change with teams.

"I've been fortunate to be around a lot of great defensemen that have been really good killers around here for a few years where I've been able when I haven't been killing, watch them and kind of know their positioning, so when I go out there, I know what to do. So I feel like just those reps and learning from a lot of guys will really help when I'm called upon."

Islanders head coach Lane Lambert has liked what he's seen from Dobson on both sides of the ice. 

"I think he's moving the puck. He's made a number of great breakout, outlet passes," Lambert said about Dobson's offensive play. "I think from that standpoint, when he gets the puck, whether it be in the defensive zone on breakouts in the offensive zone, I think he's shown more poise and a lot more confidence."

As for the defense: "This is something we've talked about with him. I feel like he's stronger. I feel like he's stronger in battles. And I feel like he's improving every day on his offensive play."

The Islanders hope that Dobson's confidence continues to rise as, alongside Pelech, that pairing should limit the opponent's chances and provide offense at a consistent rate. 

The more Dobson excels on both sides of the ice, including special teams, the more minutes Lambert will use him, and if all goes well, that should lead to more production.