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Toronto Maple Leafs: 2018 NHL Draft Risers and Fallers in February

By Austin Owens

TORONTO,ON - DECEMBER 19: A general view prior to play between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs in 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 prior to play between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs in 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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Riser: Noah Dobson, Defence, Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)

There were two very solid defenders hailing from the Maritimes that got significant hype as top prospects in the NHL Draft: Jared McIsaac and Dobson.

When preliminary rankings came out, Dobson was ranked low, with some outlets having him as a second rounder. That assessment has now gone out the window, as Dobson has ascended into the top 10 of this draft class.

"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. – Curtis Joe, EliteProspects.com"

Playing with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the sixth-overall pick in the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft has 16 goals and 68 points in 64 games.

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The Titan will not be able to track down the first spot in the QMJHL standings. That position belongs to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, who are eight points up with a game in hand on Acadie-Bathurst.

There could be some fluctuation in the league’s final standings, but the Titan and Dobson will be playing meaningful hockey shortly.

How far they will go will depend on how well Dobson and the rest of the Titan’s top players can rise to the occasion.

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