Former NY Islanders Forward Michael Dal Colle Signs in Finland

Michael Dal Colle was not brought back to the NY Islanders this summer after spending the last six-plus seasons with the organizations. The Islanders drafted Dal Colle in the first round, fifth overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Unfortunately for both Dal Colle and the Islanders, the selection didn't quite work out the way both had hoped and ultimately, the Islanders decided to move on from his services.

This summer, Dal Colle signed a professional tryout with the Ottawa Senators. However, Dal Colle failed to convert the tryout into a contract and the Senators cut ties with the 26-year-old forward. Now, Dal Colle is hoping to rejuvinate his career, signing a contract with Turun Palloseura (TPS) in Liiga, Finland's highest professional hockey league.

Before Dal Colle was drafted by the Islanders, he put on an outstanding performance with the Oshawa Generals in the OHL, accruing 39 goals and 95 points in 67 games. After the Islanders selected him fifth overall, he returned to Oshawa the following year and had an identical season, scoring 42 goals and 93 points. The year after, tallied 35 goals and 80 points between the Generals and Kingston Frontenacs where he was traded mid-season.

Thing appeared promosing for the Islanders then-prospect, however, his game didn't quite convert to the professional level. In his first season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2016-17, Dal Colle registered 15 goals and 41 points in 75 games, but things went downhill from there. For the next five seasons, Dal Colle played inconsistently between Bridgeport and the Islanders, but could never figure out a way to stick in the NHL. The Woodbridge, Ontario native now leaves the NHL with 112 games played and just eight goals and 13 assists in his five years at the NHL level.

There have been stories in the past of players leaving North America to figure out their games overseas. Most recently, Valeri Nichuskin did just that and thus became a Stanley Cup Champion with the Colorado Avalanche last season, and earned an eight-year contract in the process, however, those stories are few and far between. It remains to be seen if Dal Colle's NHL future is over and for now, he'll figure things out in Finland.