On the 2018 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers held consecutive picks, each concentrating on a right-handed defenseman. The Oilers chosen London Knights captain Evan Bouchard at No. 10, whereas the Islanders adopted by selecting Acadie-Bathurst Titan captain Noah Dobson at No. 12, proper after choosing Oliver Wahlstrom at No. 11. Greater than six years later, the connection between Bouchard and Dobson goes past the same old rivalry between first-round picks, as they now face related challenges coming into essential 2024-25 seasons.
Bouchard & Dobson’s 2023-24 Breakouts
Forward of the 2023-24 NHL season, Bouchard and Dobson had been thought-about borderline top-four defensemen. In Edmonton, Bouchard had performed in all however one of many Oilers’ video games over the earlier two seasons, but averaged below 20 minutes of ice time per sport. Regardless of consecutive 40+ level seasons, he had but to show himself as a whole defenseman. On Lengthy Island, Dobson had a bit extra belief from the teaching employees, averaging practically 21 minutes per sport during the last two seasons whereas scoring precisely 100 factors in 158 video games. Nevertheless, he was nonetheless not absolutely established because the Islanders’ top-pair defenseman, inserting behind Ryan Pulock. The 2023-24 season, nonetheless, was a turning level, establishing each gamers as stars.
Associated: New York Islanders Ought to Wait to Prolong Noah Dobson
Taking part in alongside Mattias Ekholm, Bouchard delivered a formidable 82 factors in 81 video games, together with 18 objectives and 64 assists, whereas averaging 23 minutes per sport. Earlier than the season, many claimed he relied on Connor McDavid and the ability play to generate offense, however he proved the doubters mistaken, as simply 42.7% of his factors got here on the person benefit. For comparability, Cale Makar had 43.3%, Adam Fox 45.2%, and Quinn Hughes 41.3%.
Whereas the then-23-year-old nonetheless had his fair proportion of struggles, Bouchard took his sport to the subsequent stage on each ends of the ice. He held a 68.4 objectives share (G%) and 67.1 anticipated objectives share (xG%), the very best in every class in the complete NHL. Alongside Ekholm, he conceded simply 2.22 anticipated objectives per 60 minutes, the thirteenth lowest of all defensive pairs within the NHL (min. 500 minutes) and decrease than the pairings of Jacob Slavin and Brent Burns (2.26), Devon Toews and Makar (2.31), and Hughes and Filip Hronek (2.51). There isn’t any doubt about it, Bouchard was among the many finest defensemen within the NHL, but many followers refused to offer him his flowers.
For the Islanders, Dobson’s breakout was to a lesser extent, however nonetheless poignant. He completed this season with 10 objectives and 70 factors in 78 video games whereas averaging 24:half-hour of ice time per sport. He did this whereas splitting time between protection pairings and choosing up double shifts on the penalty kill as a result of a pile-up of accidents. He completed the season with 1,936 minutes performed, the thirteenth most within the NHL, a 57.6 G% and 51.1 xG%. He was among the many finest two-way defensemen within the NHL, and if not for a late-season harm as a result of being overworked, his numbers could be even higher.
Bouchard & Dobson Have Struggled
After their standout performances within the 2023-24 season, expectations for Evan Bouchard and Noah Dobson soared—and rightfully so. Each are elite skills with the potential to dominate within the NHL. Nevertheless, they’re nonetheless comparatively younger, and because the 2024-25 season obtained underway, each encountered difficulties, resulting in frustration amongst their respective fan bases.
For Bouchard, his offensive manufacturing has barely dropped off, however his superior metrics have remained constant, together with his defensive analytics. Nevertheless, just a few expensive errors have amplified the fanbase’s frustrations. These errors embrace a careless defensive zone turnover to Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 16, which resulted within the game-tying objective, and a sluggish backcheck later in the identical sport that allowed Bobby McCann to attain the go-ahead objective for Toronto on a breakaway late within the third interval.
For Dobson, the story is similar as final season, as accidents to Alexander Romanov, Adam Pelech, and Mike Reilly have compelled him to choose up further shifts and be taught to play alongside NHL rookie, Isaiah George, who had simply 4 video games {of professional} expertise previous to his NHL debut on Nov. 5. Whereas George has seemed good, Dobson’s defensive accomplice is way from excellent, but Islanders’ followers have determined to miss the circumstances and anticipate good outcomes by highlighting his lack of physicality in board battles and occasional turnovers.
Bouchard & Dobson In Contract Years
With Bouchard and Dobson following related paths to the NHL, their contract conditions have mirrored one another. After their entry-level contracts expired, each signed bridge offers set to finish within the 2025 offseason. Now in contract years, the 2 pending restricted free brokers are aiming for profitable, long-term extensions, however their early struggles this season might impression these plans.
For Bouchard, his potential stays increased than Dobson’s. As Edmonton’s high defenseman, he was probably eyeing a long-term deal price over $11 million yearly, however his early-season struggles might immediate administration to delay discussions. Nonetheless, because the crew’s finest defenseman, a contract within the $10 million per yr vary is probably going inside attain.
Dobson’s ceiling has all the time been akin to Bouchard’s, however he wanted to raise his sport in the course of the 2024-25 season to warrant an identical deal. His early setbacks might impression not solely the Islanders’ view of his annual wage but in addition the size of the contract. Earlier than the season, an eight-year deal valued at $64 million ($8 million per yr) appeared affordable, however now, committing to that time period seems riskier. Nevertheless, it appears Dobson and Islanders’ administration have agreed to pause negotiations till the tip of the season, leaving room for a robust end to revive the group’s confidence.
Social media response to Bouchard and Dobson’s struggles has been fierce. The 2 groups have every underwhelmed to start the season, and followers usually are not glad about it, leading to blame getting thrown round. Whereas it’s true that the 2 defensemen have barely regressed, they’re every nonetheless of their mid-20s and stay two of the very best defensemen within the NHL. It’s superb to criticize them — I might even encourage it — however you will need to have in mind they’re nonetheless among the many finest defensemen within the NHL.
