Simply days earlier than the New York Islanders’ 2024-25 common season begins, Noah Dobson remains to be and not using a long-term deal. He can be a restricted free agent (RFA) after the season. Ideally, Islanders would have signed their star defenseman to an extension, one with eight seasons hooked up to it within the $7 million common annual worth (AAV) vary, sooner or later this offseason to get it out of the best way. They didn’t and common supervisor (GM) Lou Lamoriello is taking part in with fireplace as he runs the danger of not re-signing Dobson within the 2025 offseason; if he does, it is going to come at the next AAV.
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Positive, the Islanders have leverage, as they’ll match any provide. Nonetheless, the bitter negotiations between RFA Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins have been a grim reminder of how issues can go south. Not signing Dobson now may harm the Islanders sooner or later, particularly if negotiations stall.
On the identical time, this can be a guess by Lamoriello and a guess by Dobson, one that may work out for each the GM and the participant. Whereas Dobson may wrestle and regress this season, thus reducing his price ticket, all indicators level to the younger skater who’s coming into his prime to have an enormous season; it’s one thing Lamoriello is hoping for all effectively. His nice play may be the explanation the Islanders are among the best groups within the NHL. A contract 12 months tends to carry out the very best in some gamers and the Islanders’ prime defenseman appears to be certainly one of them for whom it does.
Dobson Places Collectively a Profession-Greatest Season
Dobson is a good passer who strikes the puck up the ice effectively and has a robust defensive recreation. If he can proceed to do these issues at a excessive stage and grow to be a scorer, he’ll grow to be invaluable to the group. Dobson has an ideal shot, and he should use it extra typically to take the Islanders to the following stage; scoring 20 targets and 60 or extra assists.
Nonetheless, an enormous season defensively may make the Islanders’ blue line among the best within the league. He’s proven indicators that he will be an elite defenseman and will find yourself within the Norris Trophy dialog this season. The Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes had an identical trajectory, and when he rounded out his recreation and have become an elite scoring menace from the purpose, he gained the Norris. Dobson can be in the identical dialogue if he continues to enhance in a contract 12 months
Lamoriello Leans on Dobson’s Huge Play
Within the 2023 offseason, Lamoriello took criticism after he signed Scott Mayfield and Pierre Engvall to seven-year contracts. Each have aged poorly – Mayfield’s recreation is declining and Engvall was positioned on waivers this week. Lamoriello’s already on the new seat and the following transfer or mistake from the long-time GM could possibly be his final with the Islanders.
The Islanders have a couple of massive names heading into contract years, together with Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri, and Alexander Romanov. This group is pressed towards the wage cap in order that they possible will possible solely have the ability to afford two of these skaters and this season will decide which two they’ll re-sign. Lamoriello is taking part in the ready recreation with all of them, however this technique will repay with Dobson, specifically. Positive, Nelson performs a key offensive function, however Dobson is probably the most impactful participant, taking part in at a excessive stage in all three zones and serving to each the protection and the offense.
It’s frequent for GMs to guess on skaters to have their finest seasons as they head into free company. The Florida Panthers did it final season with a handful of key skaters — notably Sam Reinhart, who scored 57 targets — and the Colorado Avalanche relied on Nazem Kadri and Darcy Kuemper in 2022 to make them the Cup. Lamoriello usually tries to increase gamers earlier than they enter free company however this season, he’s following a unique blueprint with the hopes it makes the Islanders among the best groups within the league.
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The Metropolitan Division isn’t nearly as good because it was once. The Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers are anticipated to battle for the highest spot, whereas the New Jersey Devils can be scorching on their heels. There can be lots of shut video games this season, and Dobson would be the difference-maker. With him, the Islanders may pile up wins and be in the identical dialogue.
Why the optimism? An elite season from Dobson will enable the offense to search out extra scoring possibilities off the push. Equally, his presence on the purpose will open up the offense and switch the ability play right into a power. Moreover, his robust defensive play will assist out the goaltenders whereas offering stability on the prime. A Norris-caliber season from Dobson will assist the Islanders take the league abruptly and appear to be a juggernaut.
Dobson May Get Rewarded This Offseason
An enormous season from Dobson will drive Lamoriello’s hand. His present contract is a three-year deal with a $4 million (AAV) and his subsequent deal can be within the $7 million vary; but when he’s within the Norris Trophy dialog, he’ll be paid prefer it – Cale Makar’s AAV is $9 million and Adam Fox’s AAV is $9.5 AAV.
The talk about whether or not he’s price that cash will grow to be a scorching subject if he has a breakout season. On the identical time, the Islanders will need to maintain a core a part of their roster who, at 24 years previous, is coming into his prime. A foul season from Dobson will possible end in a take care of a decrease AAV (within the $6 million vary) with 5 – 6 seasons hooked up to it however a exceptional season may enable him to ask for an eight-year contract within the $9 million vary.
Islanders Perceive Contract Years
The Panthers guess on a handful of gamers heading right into a contract 12 months, hoping they’d have the very best seasons of their profession. They’d Sam Reinhart, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Brandon Montour heading to free company on the finish of the season. The guess was that they’d all have nice seasons. They did and it’s why they gained the Cup. Whereas Ekman-Larsson and Montour left in free company, signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Seattle Kraken, the choice to have them play out their contract years paid off.
The Islanders have 4 of their prime skaters heading into the ultimate seasons of their contracts with Dobson and Nelson highlighting the listing whereas Palmieri and Romanov are additionally on expiring offers. All 4 skaters may have exceptional seasons to place this group close to the highest of the standings and probably within the Stanley Cup dialog.