New York Islanders: We Need To Talk About Michael Dal Colle

New York Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle is struggling at the AHL level for the second year in a row. I think it’s time we have a talk about Dal Colle.

With the New York Islanders taking up most of our time, sometimes it’s easy for us to forget our prospects in the AHL, WHL and wherever else they may be playing. One prospect, in particular, has had a quiet year and hasn’t been talked about too much, but I think it’s time we talk about him.

I’ve said this for a while now, but I think it’s time we discuss Michael Dal Colle being a bust. The former fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft has yet to make his NHL debut three years after being drafted.

Dal Colle is just one of two selections from the 2014 first round who have yet to make their NHL debut. The other is Conner Bleackley who was never signed to an entry-level contract by the Avalanche so he was selected again in the fifth round of the 2016 draft. That’s not a good sign.

The now 21-year old is currently on pace for a disappointing year with the Sound Tigers with no talks of him being promoted to the NHL level. Through 28 games this year he has just 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists). Over the course of a full 76 game AHL season that’s a pace of 41 points the same exact point total he finished with last year. No growth.

Let’s look at an excerpt from a Hockey Writers piece from 2014 pre-draft on Michael Dal Colle:

"“Dal Colle has always been a dangerous goal scorer but has really become a great playmaker as he does a great job of finding open teammates and making some impressive feeds”"

Dal Colle has been nothing close to an impressive scorer the last two years. In 106 career games at the AHL level, he has just 18 goals. A .17 goals per game average at the AHL level frankly isn’t going to cut it from a “dangerous goal scorer”.

If you’re keeping track at home the Islanders have whiffed on four (Dal Colle, Reinhart, Strome, Niederreiter) of their last five top-five picks, John Tavares being the exception. That’s part of the reason why we’re currently on year 12 of a Garth Snow rebuild.

Michael Dal Colle at this point doesn’t look like he has a place with the New York Islanders. If Garth is smart he’ll get a GM on the horn as soon as possible and try to convince them that he can play at the next level.

Next: 3 Disappointments So Far in 2017-2018

The Islanders have parted ways with Reinhart, Strome and Niederreiter and got Cal Clutterbuck, Jordan Eberle, and essentially Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier in return. It’s only a matter of time before Dal Colle is next.