Islanders Mathew Barzal's Open & Honest Discussion About Culture Under Trotz & Now Under Roy
What did Barzal mean the other day when he said Roy's culture was like nothing he'd ever been a part of after years under Trotz?
Shortly after the New York Islanders hired Patrick Roy, it became clear that Mathew Barzal was a big fan of his system.
"I feel very comfortable on the ice," Barzal told The Hockey News last year. "[I feel like I can] just allow my instincts to play in, and that's just not even in the offensive zone. That's just all over the ice.
"And when I feel that, I want to backcheck, I want to strip guys, I want to do that kind of stuff. It's Patrick Roy, man. I want to show him that I can play hockey."
Four days after praising his excitement for the system, Barzal took his support of Roy a step further after some strong showings.
"Just look at our game," Barzal said. "Wins and losses are one thing, but then, on a daily basis, we're building a blueprint that is going to allow us to become champions.
"And that's really what it is. And I feel like there's a lot of trust in this room with that blueprint and that it is going to allow us to be champions one day, so that's the biggest thing, just the blueprint right now, and yeah, I like where we are headed."
In a shocking turn of events, the Islanders went on a run and qualified for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, finishing as the third seed in the Metropolitan Division.
Through 36 games under Roy, Barzal had 34 points, with 11 goals and 23 assists, to conclude a point-per-game player with 80 points (23 goals, 57 assists) in 80 games.
There was a reason for optimism heading into a full year under Roy.
Unfortunately for Barzal and the Islanders, No. 13 sustained a long-term upper-body injury that had him out of the lineup for 21 games.
Due to other injuries to key players and inconsistent performances, the Islanders find themselves seven points out of a wild-card spot despite a 5-2-0 stretch.
Barzal has 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 25 games, with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) over his last 12 games. He has points in three straight (two goals, three assists) heading into Friday night's contest against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Regardless of the excuses, valid or invalid, the Islanders have not played to the best of their abilities, and Roy does share the blame for that.
But one thing you can't knock about Roy is his work ethic in trying to solve the problems ailing the Islanders.
On Monday, the one-year anniversary of Roy's hiring, Barzal spoke about the effect the Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender turned coach has had on the culture.
“Obviously, the year where we are in the standings isn't indicative of the culture that Patty's brought here, so hopefully, we can get a few wins the next few games and get rolling," Barzal said. "But the actual culture that Patty's brought here is unlike anything I've been a part of. I think he's just such an honest guy and has a ton of belief in everything."
These were some pretty big words coming from a player who played for Barry Trotz, a coach who, along with general manager Lou Lamoriello, turned around the franchise upon their hiring in 2018, establishing a winning culture.
"Trotz was really good every day, bringing a new message, making everyone feel part of the team," Barzal told The Hockey News. "There was a real collectivism about him. That was great. He had great messages every day. Every coach is like that. I feel like Barry had a good knack, a good grip on that."
Barzal then clarified his comments about Roy's changes to the team's culture.
"What I was talking about the other day with Patty is that his accountability and honesty, the truth he speaks...he doesn't mince anything," Barzal said. "He's a stand-up guy. He's got four [Stanley] Cups. There's no reason for him not to be honest about everything.
"That's just the biggest thing. When we were with Barry, we were younger and now we're older, and it's time that guys hold each other accountable and are honest with each other. And I think that's Patty's biggest message."
Lane Lambert, Trotz's replacement, tried to maintain that same culture during his tenure, but the players struggled to live up to expectations under the rookie head coach. His dismissal a year and a half later led to Roy's current tenure.
When Roy sat down for his first-ever press conference with us, he made sure to hold his new team accountable for where they were while also looking to a future of turning things around.
He pointed out the Islanders' flaws, from their defense to their special teams, but he also showed the belief that the players and coaches could all be better. That they were, as the Island found a way into the playoffs.
Did the Islanders need that outside voice after having the same internal voice since 2018?
"One hundred percent. Yeah," Barzal said adamantly. "I mean, there's a lot of guys in here now that have molded into being veterans, and the older guys. With that responsibility comes holding younger guys and everybody accountable. So that's Patty's biggest thing.
"I think even when you hear other players talk about Patty, they say that he was like a captain, so he's trying to instill that in us."
Trotz and Roy are different people, with more or less different styles, but one common goal.
The difference between their tenures on the island is exactly what Barzal discussed.
When Trotz arrived, he was tasked with teaching a younger group how to win.
When Roy arrived, he had to reaffirm that this group, albeit older, still had what it took.
Unfortunately, Roy has had difficulty consistently accomplishing that goal with this group.
But, with the way Roy preaches accountability and the way Barzal talks about it, it sounds like the Islanders are challenging one another to be better on every shift, as we know what the consequences are likely to be if they can't turn this season around incredibly soon.
Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.