Michael Dal Colle

History

2010-11: Michael Dal Colle played for the Vaughan Kings minor midget AAA team in Ontario as a 14-year-old and was a team captain for the club’s bantam AAA team.

2011-12: Dal Colle appeared in five junior A games with the St. Michael’s Buzzers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, including one playoff contest, and was the leading scorer for the Vaughan Kings minor midget AAA team. He had no points with 4 penalty minutes skating for the Buzzers. Dal Colle drew the attention of both NCAA college coaches and OHL scouts — scoring 44 goals with 34 assists in 42 midget games for Vaughan. The Kings participated in the OHL Cup and in five games Dal Colle scored 4 goals with 7 assists. He was the seventh player taken in the 2012 OHL Priority Draft when he was selected by the Oshawa Generals in the first round.

2012-13: Dal Colle chose the junior route over college hockey — and was the fifth-leading scorer for a powerful Oshawa squad that featured NHL prospects Boone Jenner (Columbus), Scott Laughton (Philadelphia) and Tyler Biggs (Toronto). He scored 15 goals with 33 assists in 63 regular season games and was +19 with 18 penalty minutes. The Generals finished second in the East Division and advanced to the second round. Dal Colle scored 2 goals with 3 assists and was +3 with 6 penalty minutes in nine OHL playoff games. Skating for Canada Ontario in the 2013 U17 World Hockey Challenge he scored 2 goals with 4 assists in five games.

2013-14: Dal Colle played for the gold medal-winning Team Canada U18 team in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial team in August before returning to Oshawa for his second OHL season. The Generals’ leading scorer as a 17-year-old, he was named to the OHL’s Second All-Star team. Dal Colle scored 39 goals, including 16 power play tallies, with 56 assists in 67 regular season games and was  plus-8 with 34 penalty minutes. Oshawa finished first in the East Division and reached the Eastern Conference finals against North Bay. Dal Colle scored 8 goals with 12 assists and had an even plus/minus in 12 playoff games. In five games at the Ivan Hlinka tournament he scored 2 goals with 2 assists and was minus-1 with 4 penalty minutes. Dal Colle was ranked fifth amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings and was selected by the Islanders in the first round (fifth overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft. 

2014-15: Dal Colle received an extended look in training camp with the Islanders, signing a three-year entry-level contract with New York before returning to Oshawa. He was the Memorial Cup champion Generals’ leading scorer in his third OHL season. Tied for ninth in the league with Saginaw’s Dylan Sadowy with 42 goals, he had 51 assists and was +32 with 18 penalty minutes in 56 regular season games. Oshawa finished 27 points ahead of second-place Ottawa in the East Division and rolled through the OHL playoffs, defeating Erie in the finals. Dal Colle scored 8 goals with 23 assists and was +1 with 2 penalty minutes in 21 OHL playoff games and was +1 with 2 goals and 3 assists in four games at the Memorial Cup. The Generals topped WHL champion Kelowna, 2-1 in overtime, in the championship game.

Talent Analysis

Dal Colle has the tools to be a great offensive contributor who can put up his fair share of points. He has great hockey sense and a sniper’s touch, using a great release to beat goalies from all areas of the offensive zone. Dal Colle is a big player with good reach and puck protecting abilities.

Future

Dal Colle attended his second training camp with the Islanders after winning a Memorial Cup last year with Oshawa. Back in the OHL for his fourth season, the 19-year-old began the year with Oshawa as the team's captain. After a difficult first half in which he suffered a groin injury and was cut from Canada's U20 team, Dal Colle was traded from rebuilding Oshawa to first-place Kingston. He has been on a tear with the Frontenacs as the team has dominated the East Division. Dal Colle continues to develop his game and hone his positional play. His size and skill set suggest he can be a big part of the Islanders' future.