Inflammation from a lingering injury forces the star playmaker to the sidelines, potentially sidelining him for the season opener and thrusting sophomore Calum Ritchie into a top-six role.
The New York Islanders announced on Wednesday that forward Mathew Barzal is being shut down for the next two weeks due to aggravation of a prior injury that has caused some inflammation.
"He is actively working to get back to full health," the Islanders said. "There is nobody more committed than Mathew to getting his body to the level where he thrives on the ice. We expect him to continue getting healthy and back in the lineup as soon as possible."
Barzal dropped out of the Team Canada roster at this summer's World Championships as a precaution for a tweak he was dealing with. Whether the two are related is not known at this time.
The Islanders open the season two weeks from Wednesday in Toronto, and it's likely that Barzal and the team would want him to practice a bit before returning to the lineup.
So, he should be expected to miss at least a few games if the timeline remains throughout his recovery.
With Barzal out for the time being, expect Calum Ritchie, entering his sophomore season, to be the club's second-line center until No. 13 can return.
