Pierre Engvall’s Plus Side Is Too Good to Pass Up for the NY Islanders

Pierre Engvall's potential as a high-end defensive forward cannot be ignored. Despite criticism due to his lack of offensive output, Engvall should have an opportunity to blossom as a reliable two-way forward for the New York Islanders this upcoming season.

Pierre Engvall is a classic case of a late-round steal. The New York Islanders forward was a seventh-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014. Given the Leafs' lack of success with draft picks, Pierre Engvall was a pleasant surprise for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

However, Engvall’s path to the NHL wasn’t all that easy.

I recall the speculation regarding Engvall’s potential call-up with Toronto. While his opportunities were limited under Mike Babcock, the promotion of Sheldon Keefe to the big club opened the door for Engvall. In fact, Engvall was promoted alongside Keefe from the Toronto Marlies to the Maple Leafs.

Engvall’s impact was almost immediate. Engvall got into 48 games with the Maple Leafs in 2020, scoring 15 points. After 35 points in 78 games in 2021-22, it seemed as though Engvall was poised to become a fixture in Toronto.

However, Toronto’s cap problems become the New York Islanders’ gain. The Leafs moved Engvall to the Island amid a cap crunch. Fast forward to 2024, and Engvall’s tenure with the Isles looks to deliver on the promise shown in Toronto back in 2020.

So, let’s take a deeper look into why Pierre Engvall’s plus side is just too good for the New York Islanders to pass up.

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