Islanders Training Camp: Michael Dal Colle, Anthony Beauvillier Returned to Junior Teams

In the latest training camp cuts, the New York Islanders returned first-round picks Michael Dal Colle (2014, 5th overall) and Anthony Beauvillier (2015, 28th overall) to their respective junior teams. Dal Colle heads back to the Memorial Cup-winning Oshawa Generals of the OHL, while Beauvillier goes to the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL.

These were expected moves, though one can read into the timing if one wants. Fellow first-rounder Mathew Barzal (2015, 16th), who has impressed at camp, remains in camp for now.

Barzal's WHL Seattle Thunderbirds season has only just begun, with one game played, but they have two games this weekend. Oshawa (three games played) has home games this Friday and Sunday, while Shawinigan (six games played) is on the road for games Friday and Saturday.

Beauvillier earned notice and praise in his first NHL camp, with Jack Capuano complimenting the undersized two-way player's skill, sense and willingness to mix it up:

"He’s got tremendous hockey sense, he’s got good intelligence of the game and a lot of skill to go along with it," Capuano said. "When you add that together and add that with grit and determination that’s a great combination to have."

"He’s got a bright future in this league."

Dal Colle had the assist on Kirill Petrov's goal in Monday night's preseason loss to the Washington Capitals, but it sounds like he might not have made the same eye-opening impression he made last preseason:

Perhaps a surprise to hockey community that Dal Colle is gone so soon, but he never flashed this camp. Surprise to those around #Isles.

— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) September 29, 2015

Regardless, as discussed in our training camp thread on the forward candidates, neither player was ever going to make the opening night roster unless several major injuries occurred. Their junior seasons have started, and they aren't eligible for AHL assignment.

Meanwhile, the Isles have several middle-six NHL forwards who can move up the chart as needed, and several AHL forwards who can jump up to the bottom six if that's where injuries hit. As a franchise, they appear past the point of using a junior forward like this for a nine-game trial unless he is highly likely to make the team.

So for both, this camp was a chance to make an impression. This time next year, Dal Colle will likely get an AHL transition like Brock Nelson, Anders Lee and Ryan Strome before him, while Beauvillier will want to stay in camp even longer before being returned for a final junior season.

Mayfield, Pelech, Halmo Back to Bridgeport

Separately and equally expected, the Islanders returned Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech and Mike Halmo to AHL Bridgeport. They had each been recalled for Monday's game.