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4 targets for the Leafs in the 2018 draft

By Austin Owens

TORONTO,ON - DECEMBER 19: A general view of the Carolina Hurricanes skating against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 19, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 8-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
TORONTO,ON - DECEMBER 19: A general view of the Carolina Hurricanes skating against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on December 19, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Hurricanes 8-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Noah Dobson – Defence (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)

We’ve touched on a steady two-way defenceman in Bouchard, who the Toronto Maple Leafs should consider with their pick. If he is not available, however, Dobson would be a great pickup.

The Summerside, PEI. native was the sixth overall pick of Acadie-Bathurst in the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Dobson has 39 points in 41 games this season on the back end. His 32 assists put him second in the league behind only Alex Barré-Boulet.

Here’s a scouting report from Curtis Joe of EliteProspects.com on Dobson:

"A talented two-way defenceman that can play in all situations and stay productive. Uses his edges well and is, for the most part, a very smooth skater; however, as he gets stronger and adjusts to a more up-tempo style of hockey, he will need to work on his speed in gap-closing. Offensively, he utilizes his keen sense of awareness to be in the right spot at the right time, every time. Soft hands and a deadly shot accentuate his ability to get creative, on occasion. Rock solid defensively, his strong positioning severely limits time and space for the opposition. All-in-all, a well-rounded, reliable, and consistent defenceman that can log a lot of ice time and provide his team with a stable presence on the back end."

Dobson made his first appearance for Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He finished the tournament with three points in five games, while helping Canada to a gold medal.

Standing at six-foot-three, and with right-handed shots being at a premium in today’s NHL, the Leafs would do well to add to their thin defensive depth.

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