Islanders: Cole Bardreau Should Stay Over Michael Dal Colle

Over the course of the New York Islanders winning streak, multiple key players have been injured. With some of these players on the verge of returning, the questions of “who should stay and who should go?” must be asked.

A couple of the New York Islanders that have their NHL roster spots in question are center Cole Bardreau and winger Michael Dal Colle.

Bardreau and Dal Colle have very similar stats. Through 14 games with the New York Islanders this season, Dal Colle has just three points (one goal, two assists), while through eight games, Bardreau has only two points (one goal, one assist).

Their penalty minutes are equal at six each and their plus/minuses are +1 and -1, Dal Colle being the positive.

However, Bardreau seems to have the better intangibles of the two. Bardreau seems to be always around the action, while Dal Colle goes invisible most nights. This shows that Bardreau hustles and does the small things right, as Butch Goring would say.

Also, Bardreau gives the New York Islanders flexibility at center. If Bardreau remains with the Islanders, Derick Brassard can remain at wing where he’s been playing his best hockey.

The only issue is that Dal Colle has been getting significant ice time with all the injuries. However, once players like Jordan Eberle and Leo Komarov come back, his ice time will most likely significantly decrease to his normal average of around 12 minutes instead of his 15 to 16 minutes now.

Even with Eberle and Komarov coming back, Bardreau will still see his average ice time of around eight and half to nine minutes.

What I would do

With all this being said, I would keep Bardreau on the NHL roster over MDC if I was in charge of the New York Islanders.

Bardreau is much more needed on the Islanders than MDC because he’s a center. If Bardreau is sent down to the AHL, then either Brassard or Komarov will have to be moved to center.

Both these options are worse than Bardreau because 1) Komarov’s faceoff percentage so far this season is just 15.4% and 2) Brassard struggled offensively and defensively at center while he’s been playing much better at wing.

Want your voice heard? Join the Eyes On Isles team!

Write for us!

Although Bardreau hasn’t produced much point-wise, he’s created chances and Dal Colle has produced much either. However, the difference is that MDC is on the New York Islanders to score while Bardreau is on the team to play gritty, defensive hockey.

MDC must be sent down, while Bardreau must stay up with the Islanders.