Detroit Red Wings 2018 draft prospect: Noah Dobson
By Ash Thompson
The Detroit Red Wings have the number six pick in the 2018 NHL entry draft. There are a few players that might make the jump to the NHL immediately but most will take a season or two. The team that is willing to wait for Noah Dobson will receive a great reward.
I have already gone over the Detroit Red Wings options with the number six pick if they’re looking for immediate impact. Now we are discussing the players they might choose if they are more interested in long-term projections. Noah Dobson is not ready for the NHL. At 6’3″ and 180 lbs he is simply not physically prepared for the rigors of an 82 game schedule against veterans. In five years he could be among the best players from this draft, however.
Dobson played for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the QMJHL. he scored 17 goals and notched 52 assists as an alternate captain. The team won the Maritimes division title, and Dobson earned First Team QMJHL All-Star honors. He won Prince Edward Island’s Junior Male Athlete of the Year. He also earned NHL Central Scouting’s number six North American skater rating.
At the Junior level, Dobson’s two-way game is phenomenal. He pairs an above-average shot from the point with a high-level ability to distribute the puck. His 69 points in 67 games reflect this combination of skills. He is a right shot offensive-minded defenseman with length. He also quarterbacks the power play effectively. Dobson often seems to be two steps ahead of even his own teammates in the offensive end. His tendency to jump into the play may result in a few odd man rushes the other way when he moves up. His natural affinity for offense will result in some bad nights at the defensive end.
He is not the most physical defender, but he plays a very high-level positional game and gets his stick on passes. His speed prevents opponents from taking him wide. He will happily ride them into the boards and fly away with the puck. Defensively is where he would struggle in the NHL immediately. He is simply not strong enough to play at the top level of the sport right now.
Next: Kerryon Johnson rookie uniform premiere
His 6’3″ frame needs to fill out before he makes the jump. It would surprise me though if Dobson wasn’t a full-time NHL player going into the 2020-21 season. Once he gets just a little bigger and stronger he will be the new NHL’s prototype defenseman. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland would be making a bold, but potentially brilliant selection.