GIF: Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle sets up Zach Nastasiuk with slick feed
Some of the most highly regarded prospects in hockey are taking part in the U20 summer development camp in Sherbrooke, Qué. this week.
As part of the camp, the various junior national team hopefuls play each other in a series of friendlies, and on Wednesday night, Team Canada's U20 hopefuls defeated Russia's U20 hopefuls 5-2.
A key moment in the game occurred late in the second period. Just moments after Vancouver Canucks prospect Bo Horvat batted in a backhand during a goalmouth scramble to give Canada a two-goal lead, Canada put a stranglehold on the game.
The backbreaker was set up expertly by New York Islanders prospect Michael Dal Colle, who was the fifth overall selection at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft this past June. Dal Colle waited ... and waited ... and waited, and ultimately set up Detroit Red Wings prospect Zach Nastasiuk with a pretty pass right by the outstretched skates of a prone Russian defender. Here's the lovely setup:
[Courtesy @myregularface]
At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Dal Colle led the Oshawa Generals in even-strength assists by a wide margin in his draft-eligible campaign. While he'll need to get stronger and faster to be a serious difference maker at the NHL level - like just about every prospect in hockey - Dal Colle's combination of high-end playmaking ability and size is pretty special.
It's almost as if there was a good reason why Dal Colle was a top-five pick!