The New York Islanders selected Michael Dal Colle with the fifth overall select in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft held in Philadelphia. They followed by trading up later in the first round dealing a pair of second round selections to Tampa for the 28th pick overall, which they used to select Joshua Ho-Sang.
Dal Colle scored 39 goals in 67 games with Oshawa in the Ontario Hockey League and joins fellow General alum John Tavares and Calvin de Haan in the organization.
“I kind of had a gut feeling I would go here if I were available and it worked out great,” said Dal Colle after his selection.
Ho-Sang played last season for Windsor in the OHL where he netted 32 goals and 53 assists with 85 penalty minutes in 67 games. The 5’11”, 166 lb. forward in known to exist with an edge both on and off the ice.
“I see the world a little bit different,” said Ho-Sang. “I’m outspoken and a little bit more opinionated than most people like, but that’s part of growing u and I’m definitely learning areas where I can and can’t be (so outspoken) and moving forward.
“This feels absolutely amazing and I thank the Islanders for taking a chance on me after no else did and I’m really grateful that they did.”
The Islanders took Russian goaltender Ilya Sorokin with their third round pick (78th overall), Swedish goaltender Linus Soderstrom with the early fourth round selection and Quinnipiac University defenseman Devon Toews 108th overall later in the fourth round.
They stayed on campus for their sixth round selection—center Kyle Schempp from Ferris State 156th overall.
In the final round, the Isles swapped the 185th pick for the 200th this year and the Lightning’s seventh rounder next year. They then selected Lukas Sutter, a 6’0”, 205 lb. center from Red Deer in the WHL, who was drafted two years ago by Winnipeg, but never signed.
He scored 10 goals with 13 assists in 45 games at Red Deer this past season as an over-ager after sending the previous three-plus season in Saskatoon.
Warren Kozireski
