Islanders top bounce-back candidate could surprise fans

The New York Islanders head into this upcoming season looking to bounce back from what was a largely disappointing season.

While some players had another solid season, others found themselves in the doghouse from the get-go.

One such player was Pierre Engvall. Engvall found himself sent down to the AHL before the start of last season. While he made his way back to the big club, he failed to impress. Engvall was the subject of trade rumors, but it seems everyone passed. There were even rumors that the Islanders could buy out his contract, but the club didn’t get that far.

Now, you might think that Engvall is done as an NHLer. His contract is an albatross the Islanders will need to figure out. But there’s reason to believe Engvall could be the Isles’ biggest bounce-back candidate this upcoming season.

For starters, Engvall should be motivated to prove he belongs in the NHL. Whether that’s with the Islanders remains to be seen. But if Engvall has a solid start to the season, he could secure a lineup spot for himself.

But let’s also assume the Islanders are keen to trade him. A good start would open doors for the Isles to move Engvall. Teams looking for forward depth could see value in Engvall. As such, Engvall could afford himself a fresh start elsewhere.

At 29, Engvall isn’t exactly the youngest guy on the team anymore. But he is young enough to where he could make the remainder of his contract valuable.

Early season struggles could be disastrous for Engvall, Islanders

Engvall will be looking to have a good camp and get off to a strong start. But if Engvall struggles to open the year, he could put the Islanders in a tough spot. That tough spot could mean having to send him back down to the AHL, but have his cap hit on the books. 

Moreover, such a situation would make it tough for the club to trade him. Since it would be unlikely that anyone claims him off waivers, the Islanders would have to make a trade. 

Unfortunately, the Isles would be lucky if they were able to ship him off for “future considerations.”

That’s why a tough start to the season would be disastrous for Engvall and the Islanders. The best-case scenario is for the 2024-25 season to be nothing more than an aberration. The hope is that the 2025-26 season will show fans and the rest of the league that last season’s lost season was just a minor setback.