Dobson had an assist and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Canucks.

EDGE Analysis

Dobson has picked up helpers in each of his last two outings. The 20-year-old defenseman continues to see mostly sheltered minutes on the Islanders' third pairing. He has seven points, 37 shots and 31 blocked shots through 34 games in his rookie year.

Dobson is expected to replace Johnny Boychuk (face) in the lineup Thursday when the Islanders take on the Senators, Brian Heyman of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Boychuk needed 90 stitches to fix a skate blade slice to his eyelid Tuesday. Dobson will take his place in the lineup until Boychuk is ready to return to the Islanders but as of now, no timetable has been set. Dobson has been learning on the job in the NHL this season and will once again be thrown into the deep end of the pool as the Islanders are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games and are struggling to stay in a playoff spot.

Dobson is expected to be a healthy scratch Monday in Arizona, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coach Barry Trotz seemed to be strongly hinting after the loss to Vegas on Saturday that it might be time for Dobson to sit a game or two in favor of Sebastian Aho. Dobson had a rough game versus Vegas with several giveaways and also took a penalty while the Islanders were on the power play. The Islanders have admitted that they rushed Dobson a bit this season due to injuries and lack of organizational depth on defense, so fantasy owners will need to be patient with the youngster.

Dobson only has one goal and four assists in 28 games so far this season.

EDGE Analysis

Those might concern when you realize Dobson is expected to be an offensive defenseman for the Islanders. The good news is that Dobson does have a zero rating so his defense isn't suffering and the Islanders have admitted that Dobson is only up with the team because of a lack of depth on defense in the organization. Dobson was a healthy scratch most nights before the team lost Adam Pelech (Achilles) for the season. It didn't help any that the only veteran defender they had at the AHL level, Thomas Hickey, has also just returned from injury. Dobson only has one point in his last 10 games but his future is secure with the Islanders and he should only get better the more he plays.

Dobson has played in 11 straight games since the season-ending injury to Adam Pelech (Achilles), Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Before the injury, Dobson had been a healthy scratch more often than not. Over the past 11 games, Dobson has scored his first and only NHL goal and added two assists to go along with a rating of minus-1. Dobson's playing time has run the gamut of just over eight minutes to as much as 20+ minutes per game as coach Barry Trotz tries to determine how best to use his prized defensive prospect. Dobson is a regular defender for now until if and when the Islanders were to acquire another defenseman via a trade or when Thomas Hickey was to recover from a lower-body injury and prove he is once again ready to play at the NHL level.

Dobson scored a goal on two shots in Tuesday's 8-2 win over the Red Wings.

EDGE Analysis

The Islanders piled on the Red Wings, and the 20-year-old Dobson notched his first NHL goal off a feed from Ryan Pulock. Dobson -- the 12th-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft -- has enjoyed an increase in ice time with Adam Pelech (Achilles) out, as he's averaged 19:19 over the last two games. He was highly productive on offense in juniors, so Dobson's development is worth keeping an eye on for dynasty purposes.

Dobson could be in line for a regular role due to the loss of Adam Pelech (Achilles) for the next 4-6 months, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Since Dobson has been with the Islanders all season and is a top prospect, he would be the logical choice to jump into the lineup. The problem, however, is that Pelech was a left-handed shot, while Dobson is right handed. So inserting him into the lineup would give the Isles four right-handers and only two left-handed shots. Sebastian Aho, who was called up from the AHL on Friday to take Pelech's roster spot, is a left-handed shot. Coach Barry Trotz could opt to insert Aho to keep his pairings balanced.

Dobson was a healthy scratch for the sixth time in seven games Tuesday versus the Capitals.

EDGE Analysis

Dobson has only played in 11 games this season. It would seem obvious that his future would be best served playing every day in the AHL if the Islanders are not going to play him, but several injuries at that level have forced the Islanders to keep Dobson with the team. Dobson still has an extremely bright future with the Islanders but unless there is an injury or trade of one of the top six defensemen, his immediate future is in the press box watching the games.

Dobson will not be loaned out so he can play in the World Junior Championship, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

In a perfect world, the Islanders probably would like Dobson to compete in the WJC but they also need him available to the team should an injury occur. Dobson is the Islander's seventh defenseman and is usually a healthy scratch come game day unless one of the top six defenders for the team is out. The Islanders don't trust any of their current depth at the AHL level to risk losing Dobson for the next couple of weeks. Oliver Wahlstrom will be the lone representative for the team at the WJC.

Dobson played for the first time since Nov. 27 as the Islanders defeated the Lightning 5-1 on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Dobson was in the lineup due to the leg injury to Nick Leddy. Whether or not he continues to play will depend on how quickly Leddy heals, who at this point in time is considered to be day to day. Dobson didn't register a point or a SOG in 9:34 minutes of playing time but did finish with a rating of plus-2 which is impressive versus an explosive Tampa Bay offense.