Pierre Engvall not in lineup with the rest of NY Islanders regulars

There’s always some controversy at training camp as coaches work their rosters to determine who’ll make the final roster. Most of the time it’s just speculation but sometimes, when there’s smoke there’s fire.

There have been questions as to who will be the NY Islanders 13th forward, but after recent developments, there are questions about another forward position that may become available.

The last two days Pierre Engvall has been skating with the Islanders extras at practice and with most of the regulars in the li who for tonight’s matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers, Julien Gauthier will be in the lineup with Engvall watching from the press box.

Engvall on the bench tonight

While players like Gauthier and Liam Foudy have been having impressive preseasons, Engvall has failed to stand out from the group.

“I think he had an OK camp,” Patrick Roy said this morning. “Obviously he’s minus-5. So I’m not saying he’s playing bad or what. I think he’s been trying to do the things we’re asking for. But I have nothing negative to say about his play.”

Acquired by the Islanders at the deadline in 2022, Engvall signed a 7-year extension last summer, paying him an average of $3.5M a season. Committed to the Islanders for the next six seasons, it’s hard to imagine the Islanders moving on from him this quickly. But, Lou Lamoriello should give spots to the 13 best players and even Engvall believes he could be fighting for a roster spot. “Yeah, I think everyone is fighting really hard to be in the lineup.”

In all likelihood, we’ll see Engvall on the roster on opening night, but it’s something to keep an eye on with only 10 days until opening night.