2nd in the NHL in blocked shots: Noah Dobson’s work is underrated

Mathis Therrien
2nd in the NHL in blocked shots: Noah Dobson’s work is underrated
Credit: Getty Images

Since the start of the season, we've all been ecstatic about Lane Hutson's performance.

The Montreal Canadiens' defenseman is nothing short of impressive, having reached a whole new level this season.

He's clearly taking all the spotlight on defense for the Habs, but despite this, another Habs defenseman stands out.

In the shadow of Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson is really getting the job done for the Canadiens.

He solidifies the right side of the Habs defense, and frankly, I think we underestimate his work because of his high salary, the highest on the team ($9.5 million).

In the end, Dobson may not be as flashy as Hutson, but he does all the little details brilliantly, as evidenced by his blocked shots.

The Habs' #53 recorded 111 blocked shots, which ranks him second in the entire National Hockey League, only one behind Colton Parayko.

(Credit: FoxSports.com)

As for the rest of the top list in terms of blocked shots, we find Alexandre Carrier at #9 and Mike Matheson at #13.

I imagine that, like me, this statistic surprises you in Dobson's case, because at the end of the day, he doesn't necessarily qualify as a defensive defenseman.

Yet, with this statistic, we realize that quite often, we underestimate the 26-year-old defenseman's work.

Defensively, he's impeccable, and what's more, he manages to produce offensively, generating plenty of good scoring chances thanks to his excellent shooting and vision.

His 28 points, including eight goals, represent a modest output that greatly helps the Habs, and occasionally takes some pressure off Lane Hutson's shoulders.

We often hear fans and analysts say they'd like to see more from Dobson considering he's the club's highest paid player, but in the end, I think we underestimate what Dobson brings to the team.

A right-handed defenseman who plays big minutes night after night, who produces offensively, and who is extremely stable defensively, in addition to blocking a lot of shots, is a very rare commodity in the NHL.

The Canadiens are fortunate to have Noah Dobson.


Overtime

– Wow.

– A great story for the Québécois from Mascouche, after spending six seasons in the AHL.

– To be continued.

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