New York Islanders No. 1 defenseman Noah Dobson is rumored to be on the NHL trade block, and the San Jose Sharks should be all over trying to acquire him.

Noah Dobson’s name has recently come up in trade rumors. Whether he’s actually on the trade block is up for debate, but it does raise an interesting question about the defenseman: Is he a part of the New York Islanders’ long-term plans?

New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson is making headlines during the NHL’s two-week break. According to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, Dobson has parted ways with his agent, Andrew Maloney of Maloney & Thompson Sports Management.

The Islanders must trade Noah Dobson at the deadline amid a defensive overhaul that could lead to a massive deal.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, speaking on Monday's episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast, clarified that while Dobson isn’t widely available, the Islanders have had “specific” trade talks that may have involved moving him under the right circumstances.

The Islanders are changing their trade deadline priorities, looking to move Noah Dobson while extending Brock Nelson.

According to RG, the Islanders are shopping Dobson: Dobson is currently on long-term injured reserve after sustaining a lower-body injury on Jan. 4. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said he could return to the ice during the latter part of the upcoming two-week break, but there is no timetable for when he will be game-ready.

The Islanders need an elite scorer and should target Canucks center Elias Pettersson at the trade deadline to fill that void.

All that, and the Islanders are right where they’ve always been. There was supposed to be some clarity by now on what this team is, and thus which direction it should go at the trade deadline in a month.