In order to take on a more prominent role during the 2023 playoffs, Noah Dobson is learning from the Islanders’ veterans.

EAST MEADOW — For New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson, the story has abruptly changed.

The 23-year-old blue-chip prospect on the blueline was paired with a long list of veterans over his first three seasons in the majors, including Zdeno Chara, Andy Greene, and Johnny Boychuk, to make sure he was appropriately mentored by some of the best players from the previous generation.

This year, the training wheels have come off as Dobson leads a defensive tandem against the young 22-year-old Samuel Bolduc, who has only played in 17 NHL games, against the Carolina Hurricanes in a first-round playoff series while the Islanders wait for Alexander Romanov to return.

“That simply comes from experience,” Dobson stated to amNewYork. “I’ve had good fortune. I give credit to Boychuk, Chara, and Greene, the guys I was able to learn from during my first couple of years, whenever I get the chance. For me and my game, each of those guys has been an amazing mentor.

As a D-core, I believe that we are all more at ease playing with one another now that the personnel is different this year. You just try to apply what you learn to your game. We have a long history together. Thus, it’s been a good mix, but I will surely retain the knowledge I gained from those guys and apply it to whatever arises in various circumstances.