Islanders Engvall Discusses Extension, Aspirations For 2023-24
In an interview with the '32 Thoughts' podcast, New York Islanders forward Pierre Engvall discussed his new contract, his linemates, and expectations for the 2023-24 season.
On Feb. 18, the New York Islanders suffered a significant blow to what was already a grind of a season when forward Mathew Barzal sustained a lower-body injury against the Bruins up in Boston.
Even with Barzal, the Islanders lacked the speed element. The need for speed is what led general manager Lou Lamoriello to pursue Toronto Maple Leafs' forward Pierre Engvall.
Lamoriello knew Engvall well from his time as the general manager of Toronto and had an inkling that his speed and transition game could be a weapon for New York.
So, for the price of a 2024 third-round pick, Engvall was an Islander.
No one, except Lamoriello, would have envisioned the impact Engvall would have on the Island alongside Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri.
That line carried the Islanders' offense to a playoff berth, and in the playoffs, they were by far New York's strongest line in the six-game bout with the Carolina Hurricanes.
"When I got traded, coming over, I think right away I felt pretty comfortable with the system," Engvall told Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on their '32 Thoughts' podcast. "I like how they play. And also, I got a lot of help from my teammates coming in."
In 18 regular season games to close out the campaign, Engvall potted notched five goals and four assists. In those six playoff games, Engvall recorded a goal and an assist.
Although that threesome gelled, it did take first-year head coach Lane Lambert a few games to find the right place for Engvall.
But as we saw, Engvall's game fit like a puzzle piece next to the first-year all-star and a healthy Palmieri.
"I felt we had some chemistry. I feel like I'm finding them on the ice, and they're finding me," Engvall said. "They're easy players to play with."
As many Islander fans know, Nelson doesn't get the league-wide recognition that he deserves. Coming over from Toronto, Engvall didn't know much about Nelson's game.
"He is definitely one of the most underrated in the league," Engvall said. "He's pretty fast and always has a great shot. Before, I felt like he was a really good playmaker and things like that.
"But his speed is underrated, and his shot is really underrated."
Of course, he had to give compliments to Palmieri, who, when healthy last season, finally played to the level the Islanders envisioned.
"He's strong on the puck. He's not that tall, but I remember, he's like one-on-one in the corner, and almost every time, he somehow gets by the guy and gets you on a two-on-one or a three-on-two somehow."
When the calendar reached July 1st -- the first day of NHL free agency -- the Islanders announced that Engvall had agreed to a seven-year deal worth $21 million.
Although Engvall always wanted to stay with New York, he knew a return wasn't automatic.
"When the season ended here, I knew they had a lot of guys to sign," Engvall said. "So I just didn't know if they were going to be able to fit me in with the team, but they offered me a good deal, so I think that was the best fit for me, and I really liked my time there."
Lamoriello is notorious for signing players and waiting to make announcements, but it does sound like Engvall never put pen to paper until July 1.
"I think we had good conversations all the way through. I think I had a pretty good idea I was gonna stay, and I wanted stay," Engvall said. " told Lou if we have something good here, like a good deal, and you feel good about me, I would like to stay in New York and play for you guys.
"And we had a good conversation all the way through, and when July 1st came there, I signed the deal."
What Engvall brings on a nightly basis is not something that always shows up on the stat line. So, in terms of expectations for his first full season in blue and orange, he just wants to continue where he left off.
"I think I would like to go back to New York the same way I ended the season," Engvall said. "I think I took my offensive game a little bit better and started to make more plays, holding on to the puck more."
Engvall added that while he had a great time playing with Nelson and Palmeri -- and that he would be more than happy to skate with them again this season -- he will play wherever he's needed.
Besides retaining players this summer, the Islanders didn't bring in any shiny new toys. Outside of moving longtime Islander Josh Bailey to the Chicago Blackhawks, there were no other changes to the room.
How does that affect the players on the roster?
"Players know what they can expect from each other, and I think you're coming in there, you feel like they had a really strong group of guys, like you can feel [the connection] in the games, so playing like they have your back and like everyone is fighting for each other, more team guys, older guys on the team.
"I think it builds faith in each other, things like that. So, I'm really happy to come back here to play for the Islanders."
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