The Islanders have been without defenseman Noah Dobson for nine consecutive games, but there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Noah Dobson joined the New York Islanders practice on Saturday, skating in an official capacity with the team for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Jan. 20, which sidelined him for nine games before the break.

Noah Dobson returned to the ice before the New York Islanders’  practice Tuesday morning. Dobson skated in a full-contact jersey but did not partake in any drills. Dobson suffered a lower-body injury in a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 20.

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 New York Islanders held practice on Saturday morning inside Northwell Health Ice Center in front of fans. The practice was high energy and packed with zip and included a few notable pieces of news.

It’s mostly speculative, but there’s been some trade chatter around star defenseman Noah Dobson of the New York Islanders. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman dispelled some of those rumors, suggesting nothing is on the table at the moment,