Isles’ Noah Dobson aims to end RFA season on strong note

A downturn in production isn’t likely to cost Noah Dobson in his next contract given he’s a 25-year-old, right-shooting defenseman entering the prime of his NHL career who put up 70 points last season. Plus, the salary cap is going up by $7.5 million to $95.5 million next season.

But with the money matters a concern for this offseason, Dobson still is looking to make the most of what remains of the Islanders’ regular season.

“It was probably a slower start than I wanted but I think the last little bit, even dating back before I got injured, I felt good about my game,” Dobson said prior to Friday night’s game against the Oilers at UBS Arena. “Production-wise it hasn’t been the same. It’s also a reflection of the power play hasn’t produced. We haven’t scored a lot of goals five-on-five, as well. It’s been hard to produce at times.

“In saying that, I feel like I’ve got a good opportunity to finish the season strong, play my best hockey of the year and do what I can to help the team get into the playoffs.”

Friday’s match was one of 18 remaining on the Islanders’ schedule. They entered the match five points out of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot and having lost the last two games of their three-game California trip.

Dobson, a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights in the last season of a three-year, $12 million deal, entered the match with six goals and 21 assists in 53 games after notching 10 goals and a career-high 60 assists for a career-high 70 points last season.

He missed 11 games because of a lower-body injury from Jan. 24-Feb. 25.

The Islanders’ power play was ranked 31st in the 32-team NHL at 19-for-159 (11.9%). Dobson had no goals and eight assists on the power play entering Friday. Last season, he notched one goal and 23 assists on the man advantage.

“I don’t really look at stats, to be honest,” said coach Patrick Roy, adding he thinks Dobson has played well. “Sometimes you’re on the power play and the power play is rolling and you got a lot of points. Sometimes, the power play is not producing so you don’t have as many points. But it’s more how I see you play.

“Sometimes statistics are not necessarily the right way to evaluate someone.”

Roy said his best evaluation comes in watching how Dobson transitions the puck out of the defensive zone and is able to get up ice on the attack.

Dobson changed agencies last month, moving on from Andrew Maloney of Maloney and Thompson. Olivier Fortier of Wasserman Hockey is Dobson’s new agent.

Dobson declined to offer specifics on the change, “out of respect to everyone involved,” but added he will play a role in the offseason negotiations.

“As a player, you’re always involved to a degree where it’s your life that’s being handled,” Dobson said. “At the end of the season, agents, [Islanders president/general manager] Lou [Lamoriello], they’ll figure that out. Right now, the focus is playing my best hockey down the stretch and that stuff will take care of itself.”

Isles files

Maxim Tsyplakov said he had no issue with Roy chastising him publicly for turning the puck over twice on the sequence that led to the Kings’ second goal in the Islanders’ 4-1 loss in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. “It’s my mistake for the second goal,” Tsyplakov said after Friday’s morning skate in his first comments since the game. “I need to be better on the puck and probably more safe. I understand, he doesn’t like my turnovers.” Roy, who started Tsyplakov on Kyle MacLean’s fourth line with Marc Gatcomb against the Oilers, said he liked the way his Russian rookie responded to his criticism. “One hundred percent,” Roy said. “And that’s what I like about him. Sometimes, you’ve got to look at yourself in the mirror. And he knows. ‘Tsyppy’ is a great hockey player, he’s a great person. At the same time, my job is to make our guys accountable. I want to be positive but I also want to be true…” Defensemen Mike Reilly and Scott Perunovich and forward Matt Martin remained the healthy scratches.