New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson has changed player agencies just weeks before the trade deadline, fueling speculation about his future. While it’s not uncommon for players to switch agents, doing so in the middle of the season—especially amid trade speculation—has raised a few eyebrows.

The exact time frames for Noah Dobson, Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield to return aren’t known, but Dobson and Pulock — whose time frames are longer — are expected to begin skating during the 4 Nations break, with Mayfield having been described as day to day heading into the two-week layoff.

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

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.

The New York Islanders are in a weird spot. They’re still relatively close to a postseason spot, just four points out with a 7-3-0 record in their last 10 games.

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.