This was a key season for New York Islanders forward Michael Dal Colle. The former fifth-overall pick finally got a full-time role in the NHL and given the Islanders' lack of scoring, he got a chance playing in the top-nine throughout a chunk of the season. Unfortunately, however, things didn’t work out so well.
Dal Colle scored just four goals and 10 points in 53 games, a pace of six goals and 15 points per 82 games. His underlying numbers were poor as well, with a corsi for percentage of just 43.2 per cent and an expected goals for percentage of 44.1 per cent (according to NaturalStatTrick.com). This came despite the fact that he was playing against a lower quality of competition that just about every other forward on the team (according to Hockey Abstract).
Dal Colle struggled carrying the puck through the neutral zone and typically wasn’t able to make plays unless the Islanders were already in the offensive zone and he was given time and space. He was a fairly hard forechecker and could sometimes create turnovers but generally, he looked a lot better without the puck than he did with it, which is often the case with career bottom-six forwards, not a former fifth-overall pick.
So do the Islanders give Dal Colle another chance next season?
Well he is signed for another year at just $700,000 and given that his trade value would be extremely low, he’s likely to stay in the organization anyways. I did vouch for Dal Colle to be given a chance last offseason but to me, he was given enough of an opportunity this season that I don’t think the Islanders should be inclined to hand him another opportunity. Considering how little legitimate scoring depth the Islanders have, he may luck into a top-nine role once again but I’d just prefer to see the chance given to Kieffer Bellows, if it comes down to the two of them for a spot on the third-line.
Dal Colle is just 24 years old and did produce at a very high level in the AHL, so it’s still possible that he could end up developing into a legitimate third-line forward. He also had a low shooting percentage this year, as did the Islanders while Dal Colle was on the ice, meaning his production could increase.
That said, I wouldn’t bank on it and unless he gives the Islanders a reason to put him into the lineup next season, the team probably shouldn't factor him into their plans going forward.
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Here’s today’s poll question (results and discussion will be posted in a future article):
How many games do you expect Michael Dal Colle to play next season?
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