Engvall might hold plenty of hidden value for Islanders in 2026-27

The New York Islanders will be looking to get a major core player back this season. Kyle Palmieri, who pretty much missed the entire season with a torn knee ligament, will be looking to become a key cog in the Isles’ machine. But there is another player looking to come back next season: Pierre Engvall.

Engvall missed all of last season after sustaining an ankle injury that required surgery. It was a tough blow for a player who had fallen out of favor in Long Island. His questionable seven-year extension has not aged well by any means.

However, Engvall figures to be healthy this upcoming season. And if he can play, the biggest question will be his role with the club.

Would Engvall be a regular in the lineup? That’s a possibility, especially if the ankle injury has not slowed him down. Engvall’s skill set revolved around speed and solid defensive ability. Even if his defense came at the expense of scoring, Engvall had a place in the Islanders’ lineup.

The additions to the club have seemingly squeezed him out. He’ll be in tough to move out one of the pieces in the bottom six. Newcomer Matias Maccelli should get every chance to make his mark on the club.

Meanwhile, other wingers like Simon Holmstrom, Ondrej Palat, and Anthony Duclair are not going away so easily. That’s why having Engvall crack the lineup, even as a good penalty killer and matchup forward, may be hard to come by.

Despite the bleak outlook for Engvall, there might still be a future for him with the Islanders.

Engvall’s future with Islanders could go beyond this season

Engvall might still stick around the organization, not so much this season, but beyond. The Islanders have four impending UFAs for this upcoming season. Palmieri will be the biggest one. If he comes back strong, it’s certain the Islanders will move to re-sign him.

That situation leaves Palat, Casey Cizikas, and Kyle MacLean as other UFAs. If one of them leaves and Engvall has a good season, he could very well regain a regular spot in the lineup.

But that’s a major question mark at the moment.

Engvall will need to prove he’s fully healthy. If he can play close to a full season, the organization could feel confident in keeping him around.

Second, the 30-year-old will need to earn regular playing time. And that will be the hard part. Lineup spots will be hard to come by this season. Still, an injury could open up some room for him. That’s why Engvall will have to be ready to jump in.

It’s worth noting that the rising cap and salary inflation no longer make his $3 million hit look as onerous as it once did. So, even if the Islanders don't see a fit, they could easily trade him if he shows promise in the early weeks of the season.

For Engvall and the Islanders’ sake, let’s hope this season works out well for everyone.

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