Islanders Noah Dobson switches agents with major contract talks looming

MONTREAL — Ahead of hitting restricted free agency this summer, Noah Dobson has switched agencies, The Post has learned.Dobson is now represented by Wasserman Hockey, having dropped Andrew Maloney of Maloney and Thompson.The 25-year-old Islanders defenseman is in the midst of a down season and currently dealing with a right leg injury suffered on Martin Luther King Jr.Day against Columbus.

He is expected to start skating during the 4 Nations break.Dobson was eligible to sign a contract extension last summer but chose to wait, knowing that the salary cap was set to rise.With the jump set to be more than originally anticipated, that piece of decision-making will likely pay off.Though a restricted free agent, Dobson has more leverage than a typical RFA.

He is arbitration-eligible and could choose to go for a short-term deal that bridges him to unrestricted free agency at age 27 — when the cap will be even higher — if he wants.Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.

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Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! The salary-cap jump also means more teams will have room for a potential offer sheet this summer, though that is generally not a move restricted free agents make.Dobson’s name has popped up in trade rumors recently, but it is not believed the Islanders are looking to move him.Though Dobson’s season has not gone according to plan — he has just 24 points in 46 games after recording 70 a year ago — he is likely to be a cornerstone of the Islanders’ future as a top-pair defenseman in his mid-20s who is still getting better.The question for his next contract is how this season affects Dobson’s value in the context of the cap climb.If he signs long term, it figures that Dobson’s value should be in the $8-10 million range — figures ...