Engvall Eager to Return After Year-Long Injury

At 6’6” it’s easy to spot Pierre Engvall on the ice and on the first day of New York Islanders Training Camp, it was a welcome sight.

Engvall missed the entirety of the 2025-26 season due to hip and ankle ailments. His rehab process has been a long one, so being back on the ice for Training Camp marked a meaningful milestone.

"Felt really good," Engvall said on his first practice back. "Just to be out there with the boys, get a good skate in and first practice to start the season felt really good."

Before the injury, Engvall tallied 15 points (8G, 7A) in 62 games during the 2024-25 campaign and 52 total points (23G, 29A) in 154 games across three seasons with the Isles.

After the 2025 season, Engvall underwent hip surgery in the summer, and ankle surgery in the fall, the latter to correct a lingering injury, key for a player whose speed is his calling card.

While Engvall wanted to get back into game-action as quickly as possible, he made sure he listened to his body during the road back to the ice. As frustrating as it can be to sit out, Engvall understood the need to be patient with his recovery.

"When you rehab for that long, and when you see other guys out there having fun, you obviously want to come back as fast as you can, but at the same time, you want to take care of the body to make sure that you're 100% when you are back, so you can contribute the best way you can," Engvall said. “That was my main focus, getting back to 100% so I can help the team."

Engvall resumed skating in May, so he’s had the summer to get his legs under him. While he’s been working on the ice for over three months, he feels good to get back into high-intensity play.

"I feel like my conditioning is really good," Engvall said. “I’m just happy to be out there.”

Engvall has been back on Long Island training alongside his teammates, but the first two days of Islanders Training Camp marked the first time he practiced with the full squad in a quick-paced environment.

“Engvall, for his size, he's a specimen physically,” New York Islanders General Manager and EVP, Mathieu Darche, said ahead of the first day of Training Camp. “He's been here for a couple weeks now. He looks good on the ice, and we'll see how he plays."

The time away from the game helped Engvall reflect, making him discover new things about himself.

"I think you can always, you know, get better at things," Engvall said.  "For me, it was just taking care of the body, and you know doing what's making me be 100% out there. I think to take care of the body."

A lot has changed since Engvall has been out and he enters Training Camp with both a new coach, Pete DeBoer, and General Manager in Darche. There are new faces on the team as well, including Calum Ritchie, Emil Heineman, Brayden Schenn, Ondrej Palat and offseason signing Matias Maccelli.

“We've got a battle at the forward spots for roster spots and for ice time,” DeBoer said. “Those guys understand the urgency of having to make a case for themselves as quickly as possible. And it's not easy when you haven't played in a year or you've been out for six or seven months.”

As competition for roles and roster spots heats up, the speedy – and now healthy – Swede is looking to make a good impression.

“I just want to get out there and do what I do best,” Engvall said. “I think that I'm a good skater, can take the puck to the net, and hold on to pucks. I'm just trying to do my best out there, and hopefully that will go a long way.”