Ottawa Senators sign former Islanders Dal Colle and Brassard to PTOs

A pair of former New York Islanders signed PTOs (professional tryouts) with the Ottawa Senators, GM Pierre Dorion announced on Thursday - Michael Dal Colle and Derick Brassard.

Dal Colle was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Islanders for the second consecutive year back in July. Ahead of the 2021-22 season, he later signed a one-year, $750,000 deal, spent camp with the team and later cleared waivers to be assigned to AHL Bridgeport. This time around with young forwards expected to take on a prominent role with Bridgeport, a change of scenery was best for the organization and the 2014 5th overall pick.

He played 39 games for the B-Islanders last season and had nine goals and 13 assists in 39 games as the Islanders affiliate advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The 2019 AHL All-Star had two goals and one assist in six playoff games. He made one appearance at the NHL level last season, a 4-1 Islanders win against the Buffalo Sabres on December 30th.

In 112 NHL games across five seasons, Dal Colle scored eight goals and added 13 assists for the Islanders, and appeared in four Stanley Cup Playoff games.

As for Brassard, he returns to Ottawa after playing two seasons there after being traded by the New York Rangers with a 7th-round draft pick in 2018 for a 2nd-round draft pick in 2018 and Mika Zibanejad. Brassard scored 11 points in 19 playoff games during the Sens' run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2017.

After playing for three teams during the 2018-19 season (Pittsburgh, Florida, and Colorado), Brassard signed a one-year contract with the Islanders for the 2019-20 season.

In 66 games during the COVID-paused seasons, Brassard scored 10 goals and added 22 assists. In 18 playoff games in the Toronto and Edmonton bubbles, he registered 8 points (2 goals, 6 assists). The 34-year-old split time between the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers last season, scoring 19 points in 46 games between the two teams. He appeared in one playoff game for Edmonton after being acquired for a 2023 4th-round pick at the trade deadline.