Islanders Sign Seven, No Qualifying Offer For Dal Colle?

The New York Islanders have until July 11 to send qualifying offers to their restricted free agents. On Saturday night, the Islanders signed seven players, including two RFAs in defensemen Robin Salo and forward Otto Koivula:

To summarize, the Islanders have extended 7 players:

D Robin Salo ($800k x 2)
D Sebastian Aho ($825k x 2)
F Andy Andreoff ($762.5k x 2)
G Ken Appleby ($762.5k x 2)
D Grant Hutton ($775k x 3)
F Jeff Kubiak ($750k x 1)
F Otto Koivula ($800k x 2)https://t.co/hB1IQ2Q7Na pic.twitter.com/a2DUKXyVhM

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 9, 2022

Sebastian Aho was a question heading into the offseason, but it appears that he will be the seventh man for 2022-23, baring more changes––which is very possible.

The New York Islanders now have $11,185,037 in cap space per Cap Friendly, but that number will be decreasing. The most important contract is Noah Dobson’s, which has not come in yet.

On Friday, following the 2022 NHL Draft, New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello still did not have a complete picture as to if all of his RFA’s will get deals.

“We’re discussing one or two, whether it’s better for them to give them an opportunity somewhere else or not,” Lamoriello said. “And we’ll make that decision jointly with them.”

“In other words, it’s not us trying to let them move along. But we know they haven’t had an opportunity and we’ll do what we can for them.”

Here is the list of the New York Islanders RFAs still left: Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov, Kieffer Bellows, Michael Dal Colle, Arnaud Durandeau, Parker Wotherspoon.

All of these players dressed for at least one game at the NHL level in 2021-22 and although the player or two were not named by Lamoriello, it’s likely that 26-year-old Michael Dal Colle is one, if not the only one, that may not be tendered.

This past season with the Bridgeport Islanders, the New York Islanders AHL affiliate, Dal Colle had nine goals and 13 assists. In their postseason run, which lasted six games, he had two goals and an assist.

And just like that, it's a two-goal game!

Aatu Raty finds Michael Dal Colle, who was all alone in front of Daccord. A quick look and adjustment later, that puck was in the net.

What a crazy start to this game!

4-2 | 15:27 1st | #CHAvsBRI pic.twitter.com/o6tc8Z1Eq5

— Jeremy Paul (@FPHMonsters) May 12, 2022

Dal Colle dressed for one game with the New York Islanders during the 2021-22 season, where he recorded two shots and a giveaway in 14:34 minutes of ice time.

In 26 games with the New York Islanders during that shortened 56-game campaign, Dal Colle had one goal and three assists.

Dal Colle had the opportunity to be tendered following the 2020-21 season, but the New York Islanders elected not to go that route, as Dal Colle became an unrestricted free agent.

In 26 games with the New York Islanders during that shortened 56-game campaign, Dal Colle had one goal and three assists.

The Islanders then signed him to a one-year deal, with an annual average value of $750,000.

It might be time for both sides to officially part ways, as a change in scenery might be what’s best for Michael Dal Colle, the New York Islanders’ fifth overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, who just never panned out.

It also means that if he is qualified, and returns and plays with Bridgeport, he is likely taking up a roster spot from a player, taking minutes away from a player that the organization values more.

The announcement from the New York Islanders should come soon, but for now, Michael Dal Colle being the odd-man-out makes the most sense at this point in time.