It was as big a vote of confidence as you’d hope to get from your team’s general manager.
When the New York Islanders traded away Devon Toews on Monday it reflected the trust that general manager Lou Lamoriello had in Noah Dobson as much as their need to move some pieces to help sweeten the pot to free up cap space. The two draft picks the Islanders got in return for Toews will help facilitate a deal to move the likes of Johnny Boychuk or another pricy contract, but it only happened if Lamoriello was confident in whoever took over Toews’ spot.
“We would have not made this move certainly if the ice time that Devon received if we didn’t have the ability to put a player into that,” Lamoriello said during a Zoom call with reporters. “Noah Dobson we feel is ready to take the next step. We’ll have to just wait and see.”
Dobson had grown leaps and bounds since the beginning of the 2019-20 season, in which he played 34 games while Adam Pelech was out with an injury. Dobson had a goal and seven assists in that span and averaged 13:17 of ice time.
He added 25 hits and eight takeaways during the regular season.
Dobson made his playoff debut in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He logged 12:55 of ice time during the Game 6 loss, which included being out on the ice late in the game with the score tied.
“Dobber is going to be a big part of the future and the now I guess,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said at the time. “We’ll be into the next season very shortly here. He’ll be a big part of it going forward.”
With Toews dealt to Colorado, that statement rings even more true for Dobson and the Islanders.
Dobson was already the focus of attention when he was filling in for Pelech during the regular season, but now the hole that Toews leaves gives him a permanent spot to fill. Toews had been playing a top-four role on the Islanders blue line during his first full season in the NHL, but Dobson might not be thrown into that role right off the bat next season.
There is an expectation that Dobson would be paired with Andy Greene should the veteran defenseman re-sign with the Islanders. The two have worked with one another on the ice before.
Lamoriello called the notion of re-signing Greene a “very strong option.”
“There is a strong chance that Andy will be back in some role,” Lamoriello later added.
