The expectations for former 2014 fifth overall selection Michael Dal Colle were high entering the 2019-2020 season. The 23-year-old winger was coming off a great AHL season for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, amassing 34 points in 34 games. While he has struggled to capitalize a legitimate spot on the Islanders for the first five years of his career, he was given the chance by Barry Trotz to display his skill after the Andrew Ladd injury, where he was put on a line consisting of Leo Komarov and Valtteri Filppula.
The big 6’3″ forward struggled at first, earning two points in his first 14 games. But his game was 100% not about points. It was more of a study and mentorship he would receive from his linemates. His play was improving every game, even if it was not seen on the scoresheet. He finally broke through and scored his first NHL goal against two-time Stanley Cup Champion Jonathan Quick on February 2, 2019. The goal ended up becoming the game-winning goal for the Islanders in a 4-2 win.

The Good:

Dal Colle started off the up-and-down 2019-2020 season for the Isles on the 2nd line, alongside Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson. Fans were expecting solid contributions from the young power forward, as he showed glimpses of success in the previous season. He played solid in the home-opener against the Washington Capitals, who were attempting to shake the rust off from this summer.
The former Oshawa General had a cold start in the first two months of the season, resulting in one goal and three points in 15 games. However, Dal Colle was successful when the Isles needed him the most.
His first point was earned against the defending champions, St. Louis Blues, with less than five minutes remaining in the game while the Islanders were down 2-0, showing no signs of life on offense. He capitalized on a failed Blues clear, and fed it to Brock Nelson who cut the lead to 2-1. This goal sparked lots of momentum for the Islanders, who ended up tying the game with less than a minute to go and eventually winning the game in overtime. We all know what happened after that.

The Bad:

Even with the glimpses of success, Dal Colle really hasn’t lived up to his expectations for the 2019-2020 season. He has had a mere 10 points in 53 games with the team, where he received more than enough chances to prove himself. His lack of on-ice-success results in him being criticized by the fans. However, the fans are more disgruntled that the players selected below him found either success or stardom, with names such as William Nylander, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jakub Vrana, David Pastrnak and Dylan Larkin.
While there is more than enough time for the young winger to prove he can contribute big plays and play top-six minutes in the NHL, it is really challenging to see the light at the end of the tunnel, as the Islanders only seem to be getting better and faster, and you can see Dal Colle has not been able to keep up with the pace. This is not to say that Dal Colle is a horrible player, but he is visibly frustrated. However, he earned the right to play in the league with a good attitude, patience and playing for team success. The Islanders have definitely not given up on the 23-year old yet.

The Moment of the Season:

During the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 19, 2019, Dal Colle scored a big goal for the Isles’ in a 3-2 OT win. The 23-year-old showed hustle in his game, and was ultimately rewarded by Trotz by placing Dal Colle on the ice in crucial moments, adding up to 17:56 TOI.

The Expectations:

Dal Colle was projected to amass 40-50 points playing consistent powerplay minutes. To add the cherry on top, he started off playing on the second line. He did not live up to the Trotz or the fan’s expectations, as he was playing at a much worse point production pace than last year, where he earned 7 points in 28 games. Prior to the seasons halt, he had 10 points in 53 games and was rotated in and out of the lineup.

The Verdict:

Again, Michael Dal Colle is not a bad player. He works hard and is a valuable member of the team. But he must do more to avoid being replaced by a younger, better player.

The Grade: C/76