GLENDALE, Ariz. — It’s been a season of learning and typical rookie ups-and-downs for Noah Dobson, the Islanders’ prized defense prospect drafted No. 12 overall in 2018 who is on the roster because the organization believes his development would be stunted if he remained with his junior hockey team but is not eligible for the AHL.
However, coach Barry Trotz indicated the team may no longer be able to afford the steady on-the-job training Dobson has received since top-pair defenseman Adam Pelech suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury on Jan. 2.
The Islanders, who did not practice on Sunday, continue their four-game Western road trip on Monday afternoon against the Coyotes at Gila River Arena.