A very smooth skater and calming three-zone presence, Noah Dobson's draft stock was consistently on the rise this season as he ramped up his offensive contributions.
Already on the map as a smart, steady defenseman that exhibits across-the-board competence, Dobson hit a new level with 17 goals, including 11 with the man advantage, and 69 points en route to being named a First Team All Star for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Champion Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
Playing for the league champion, Dobson was afforded the luxury of extending his audition at the 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup.
In his first game, he took the puck deep into the zone to break down the defense for a primary helper on the game-winning goal. The star kept shining as he logged huge minutes for the eventual tournament champion, finishing the four-game slate with two goals, seven points and a spot on the Tournament All-Star Team.
The greatest leaps in Dobson's game have come with him confidently jumping into the attack when the situation calls for it.
He demonstrates impressive range thanks to his powerful skating stride, and when an opening appears, he makes the right decision to pinch on a play or find a lane with his stick on the ice as an extra option. It's a trait that led to Dobson amassing 279 shots on goal, more than three times his previous season's total, to place fourth among all league skaters.
Even if his offense doesn't carry over to the professional ranks, Dobson's foundation as a defensive zone rock is well established with a considerably high ceiling. He meets the attack, taking away time and space from those who choose to work his side of the ice.
Dobson will want to work on his pivoting and add a little more foot speed as he goes, but as it stands currently, his feet keep him in plays and allow him to close hard on his checks, use his big frame and long reach to jam lanes, and finish through his man.
<< #10 Evan Bouchard | #8 Adam Boqvist >>
Click Here For The Full List
For more on all the youngsters in the Sabres pipeline, check out Kris Baker's website, SabresProspects.com. You can also follow him on Twitter (@SabresProspects).
