Islanders Off-Season 2015: Dal Colle, Petrov & Russo

For the 2^nd straight year, the New York Islanders have a 1^st round pick on a Memorial Cup winning team.

 

 

 

Michael Dal Colle and Oshawa beat Kelowna by the score of 2-1 in OT for the Memorial Cup on Sunday night.  The Generals were 4-0 in the round robin portion of the tournament leading up to the finals win.  Dal Colle was 2 & 3 for 5 points and tied for the team lead (Lindberg) in points.  Per Islanders.nhl.com, “Dal Colle set a career-high with 42 goals this season, scoring 93 points in 56 games and finished second in OHL playoff scoring with 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) in 21 games.”

 

 

 

Prior to competing for the Memorial Cup, Dal Colle and the Generals finished their OHL campaign by winning the J. Ross Robertson trophy in 5 games against the Otters.

 

 

Although not confirmed by the Islanders at this point, 2008 3rd round pick Kirill Petrov reportedly signed a 1-year ELC with New York per @GazetaBOsport.  Petrov was a player that was rumored to have a top 5 pick skill set, but declined in value after signing a lengthy KHL contract prior to his NHL draft eligibility.  Petrov has been invited to Isles camps for several years now and has 8 seasons KHL experience at this point.  Although his recent stats haven’t been mind-blowing (14-15-29 in 53 games last ssn), Petrov has a possibility to blossom or even just add some depth to the middle/bottom of New York’s forward line up.  I am not sure he has panned out to be the top player that he was once projected to be, but I know that he probably would not be invited to camp again unless the Islanders thought that he’d fit into their system and have a chance to make an impact.  In addition, having tradable assets might have an impact for the Isles this summer.

 

 

 

Per Arthur Staple, “Appears Isles will not be signing D Robbie Russo, 2011 4th rd pick. 2nd team NCAA All-American at Notre Dame this season. Will become FA.”  Although skilled, Russo’s time in the organization was probably cut short due to the high level defensive prospects charted ahead of him.

 

 

 

Isles Notes:

Per B.D. Gallof, “MikkoKoskinen has signed a one year contract for KHL season 2015-16 with SKA St.Petersburg. Per agent, he and Isles did have discussions.  "Yes, we had few discussions with NYI regarding coming back to the NHL but Mikko decided to stay one more season in the KHL." – agent.”

 

 

 

Former Isles goaltender, Anders Nilsson declines KHL extension, may seek NHL return to try and play for Blackhawks.

 

 

 

NHL Notes:

 

 

 

 

There will be a different Stanley Cup Champion for 16th consecutive season. The last team to repeat: @DetroitRedWings in 1996-97 & 1997-98.