New York Islanders Top 5 Weekly Highlights: Josh Bailey Acrobatics

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 27: Fifth overall pick Michael Dal Colle of the New York Islanders poses for a portrait during the 2014 NHL Draft at the Wells Fargo Center on June 27, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

Dal Colle First Goal

It took a while, but Michael Dal Colle has finally hit the back of the net at the NHL level. The former fifth overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft is now playing at the top level and on January 17th, 2018 he was rewarded with his first NHL goal.

What a nice goal it was. His back is to the play, takes a glance and sees Mayfield opening for a shot at the point. With body position, Dal Colle is open to receive Mayfield’s slap-pass and redirect it into an empty net.

It’s exactly what you want to see from what should be a power forward. He used his 6’3″ 204lbs frame to get a position in front of the Scott Wedgewood and then to have the hand-eye-coordination to redirect that into the net.

Dal Colle was all smiles after the goal. I can only imagine how he was feeling after that goal. He’s had to deal with doubts about his ability to even get to the NHL for years. His not-so-glamorous stay in the AHL looked like it was careening towards an NHL bust. Now he has his first NHL goal.

With all that being said, this won’t propel Dal Colle into a top-six forward in the NHL. But it’s a great start to his NHL career. It’s hard to see him living up to the hype when he was drafted fifth overall. Although he’s much closer to reaching that potential now than he was just last season.

He’s in the NHL, playing well for a team looking to establish its next wave of talent, and is now producing. Good on Dal Colle. He’s deserved this.