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New York Islanders: Top 25 Under 25 2019-2020 Edition

By Matt O'Leary
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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New York Islanders
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – MARCH 09: Michael Dal Colle #28 of the New York Islanders skates against the Philadelphia Flyers at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on March 09, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Flyers defeated the Islanders 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Number 11: Michael Dal Colle (Left Wing) | Age: 23

Bridgeport Sound Tigers Stats: 18 G, 16 A, 34 PTS

New York Islanders Stats: 3 G, 4 A, 7 PTS

2018-2019 was a year of revival for Michael Dal Colle. His NHL career looked all but derailed after a putrid 2017-2018 which saw me label him a bust and get into it with his father, Gus Dal Colle, on Twitter.

After just 24 points in 60 games in the AHL in 2017-2018, Dal Colle finished with 34 points in 34 games this past year. He even got an extended look at the NHL, finally, nearly five years after he was taken fifth overall.

In those 28 games, he was fairly okay on the third line. His pace of .25 points per game is not nearly enough but he showed some signs of being a competent NHL player and has a real shot to make the Islanders for a third-line role this year.

At this point, he hasn’t rid himself of the bust nametag just yet. His projection seems to be a third-line player, which isn’t nearly enough return for a fifth overall pick but being able to salvage anything out of Dal Colle is a win at this point.

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