from Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province,

Dobson, 22, had 51 points (13-38) in 80 games last season and the 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-shot defender might be in trade play to align with Hughes as the future top pairing.

The Islanders, who missed the playoffs by a whopping 17 points last season, need to prop up their 20th-ranked offence that had just two reach the 20-goal plateau in Brock Nelson (37) and Anders Lee (28). Centre Mathew Barzal slumped to 15 goals and wingers Kyle Palmeiri (15), Josh Bailey (14) and Anthony Beauvillier (12) struggled.

Not exactly the way to christen a sparkling new arena or keep off-season pace with regional rival New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

The Rangers signed centre Vincent Trocheck, 29, in free agency to a seven-year, $39.375-million deal (all figures in U.S. dollars). It was Plan B with Ryan Strome bolting to the Anaheim Ducks and kicking the tires on J.T. Miller. The Devils responded by adding winger Ondrej Palat, 31, for five years at $30 million in a front-loaded deal after missing on Johnny Gaudreau. Miller was on their radar, too.

Which, again, brings us to Dobson and Miller and the Islanders.

President of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello has $11 million in salary cap space, but the contract for restricted free agent Dobson should be a big one. His 51-point output is Dahlin territory and the 21-year-old Buffalo Sabres standout will earn $5.8 and $7.2 million the next two seasons.

That might be too rich because Barzal’s deal is up after next season and he’s a $7-million cap hit with $10 million in total salary next season. If he rebounds, it will put the Isles in a big bind.

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