Pierre Engvall has made a strong case that his stay in the AHL should not last much longer.
The New York Islanders entered the season viewing Engvall as a depth option, someone who could bounce between the AHL and the press box and step into the bottom six when injuries opened a spot. That was never the role the Islanders had in mind when they signed him to a seven-year deal with a $3 million average annual value, but after he missed all of last season because of hip and ankle surgery, simply getting useful minutes out of him already counted as a positive.
What he has done over the first six weeks has gone well beyond that. In 16 games with the Hamilton Hammers, Engvall has produced five goals and eight assists for 13 points.
That pace has him tied with Liam Foudy for the team lead in goals and sitting second on the club in both assists and points. If that production keeps up, keeping him in the AHL gets a lot harder.
He has earned a look with the Islanders.
That matters because New York’s offense has been one of the early-season problems. The Islanders are averaging 2.94 goals per game, which ranks 12th lowest in the NHL. With the goaltending and defense both sitting in the top ten, even a modest bump in scoring could be the difference between losses and wins.
The power play has been part of the issue too. The Islanders are converting just 16.4% of their opportunities, the sixth-lowest mark in the league.
Engvall could help in both areas. He would bring some extra punch to a bottom six that has mostly struggled to generate offense, with most of the line combinations they have used scoring fewer than two goals apiece this season.
His heavy shot and skating give him a chance to create chances and finish them, and his ability to play all three forward positions adds another layer of flexibility.
He has also done some damage on the power play in the AHL. Two of his five goals have come with the man advantage, tying him with Mitchell Chaffe and Quinn Finley for second most on the Hammers. He is not going to jump onto the Islanders’ top unit, but there is a case for giving him a shot on the second group and seeing whether that production carries over.
Engvall may not be the long-term answer to New York’s scoring issues. The Islanders will likely need to look outside the organization and make trades to truly solve that problem. But right now, he looks like the kind of player who can give them a needed spark and buy them time until the trade deadline.
In Other News...
Brayden Schenn Is Making The Islanders Trade Debate A Lot Harder
Brayden Schenn has quickly become one of the more interesting stories around the Islanders since arriving, and not just because of the production. He has 16 points in 18 games, including a recent goal and two assists against the Kings, which is the kind of immediate impact that can make any trade look better in a hurry. For a team that paid a steep price to get him, that kind of start naturally changes the conversation.
It has also gone beyond the box score. Schenn has been spending time with rookie Victor Eklund after practice, helping him along as the young forward continues to develop, which adds another layer to his value in the room. Still, the trade that brought Schenn to Long Island included significant assets, including a first-round pick, and that remains a sore spot for some fans even as his play keeps making the debate harder to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders May Have Found The Offensive Spark They Desperately Needed
The Islanders finally got the kind of night they have been chasing, snapping a four-game winless streak with a 5-2 victory over the Kings. Brayden Schenn was at the center of it, finishing with two goals and an assist in his first three-point game since March 28, while also stretching his point streak to four games and giving New York a much-needed push from the top of the lineup.
Victor Eklund added another layer to the win, scoring his seventh goal of the season and continuing to pace Eastern Conference rookies. His four-game goal streak is a rare run in franchise history, and it came at a time when the Islanders badly needed someone to keep the offense moving. If this is the start of something more sustainable, it could change the tone around a team that has been looking for a spark. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Forward Battle Is About To Get Uncomfortable
Mathew Barzal is expected back in the Islanders lineup this week after working his way through a knee injury, and his return is set to add another layer to a forward group that has already started to shift. Matias Maccelli is back as well and made an immediate impact with an assist in his first game since returning, while Cal Ritchie is also moving forward in his recovery timeline.
For the Islanders, the challenge now is less about getting healthy and more about sorting out who stays in once everyone is available. With some forwards still underperforming and others suddenly looking vulnerable, the next lineup decisions could get uncomfortable fast as the team tries to balance talent, roles and recent production. [Read more 🡒]