The biggest question mark heading into the New York Islanders season is how good the duo of Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat can be. Our Stefen Rosner caught up with Barzal to get an update on their chemistry level.

EAST MEADOW, NY-- The biggest question mark heading into the New York Islanders season is how good the duo of Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat can be.

Both are signed to eight-year extensions and showcased strong play alongside one another in the short sample size of five games before Barzal's long-term lower-body injury back in February. 

Although it's impossible to build on-ice chemistry in the summer months away from on-ice action, they seem to have rekindled their chemistry rather quickly during training camp.

READ MORE: Rekindling Chemistry Vital for Islanders Barzal & Horvat

The Islanders have scrimmaged the last two days of training camp, and the two have been clicking as if they've played together for years. 

Through two scrimmages, Barzal has four goals, each assisted by Horvat, while Horvat has a goal (three if you are counting shootout).

"It's been pretty good. It's nice playing with a good hockey player," Barzal told The Hockey News. "He's a really good player."

Despite how well things are going right now for the two, Barzal thinks there's another level. 

"I feel like we're not fully there. Still just reading off each other, and I think we still got room to grow," Barzal said. "I'm just finding my way on the wing and finding what he likes and moving around and getting each other the puck. 

"I think it's coming along nicely."

While Horvat is more of the pure goal-scorer of the two, having two weapons on one line forces the opposition to hone in on one, which in part creates more time and space for the other. 

In theory, that means Barzal should have more shooting opportunities, especially coming down the wing rather than the center of the ice with the positional change. 

One of the biggest complaints about Barzal's game throughout the years has been his "unwillingness" to shoot, whether that be at five-on-five or on the power play. 

However, in 2021-22, Barzal was third on the team in shots on goal (161), trailing Brock Nelson (171) and shot leader Noah Dobson (190). 

In 2022-23, in which Barzal only played 58 games due to injury, he averaged 2.39 shots per game, the third-highest mark of his career. 

"I feel like I shoot quite a bit," Barzal said. "People don't understand. You can't just shoot on NHL goalies and then expect to score. There has to be traffic. There has to be some stuff going on around the net. Or you have to be in the grade-A slot to score. 

"You aren't getting over the blue line and scoring on a goalie. It's just not the case."

That being said, players aren't always shooting to score, and Barzal's past experience with Anders Lee -- a big-body who gets to the net -- is something he's using when skating with Horvat. 

"Playing with Lee [for many years], I tried to do a little bit of the same thing [shooting for rebounds]," Barzal said. "Just getting pucks out there in front, and Horvat's good in front, so I'll definitely try to throw a few on net and try to let him go to work down there."

Although not a power forward, Barzal has the ability to drive the net due to his elite edgework. Now that he will be transitioning up the ice along the boards more frequently, we may see him try to drive the net more than in years past. 

"Maybe, being on the wing, just being able to fly up the wall. Maybe I'll drop my shoulder and bring it to the net [more]," Barzal said. "Horvat's good around the net. I mean, I'm always trying to bring pucks there. It's not easy to just beat guys, so I'm always trying to look to get to the net."

Barzal played alongside Anders Lee for a long time, and while Horvat and Lee aren't the same player, there are certain similarities -- one being a big body in front.

"That's the thing, you know? Playing with Lee [for many years], I tried to do a little bit of the same thing," Barzal said. "Just get pucks out there in front, and Horvat's good in front, so I'll definitely try to throw a few on net and try to let him go to work down there."

But, at the end of the day, No. 13 knows his strengths and is focused on bringing the same game he's been bringing since breaking into the league. 

"I'm a possession guy. I like to make a few passes and bring the puck to the net with some speed," Barzal said. "So that's, I think, the best way to score goals."

Barzal added: "One-timers, finding one-timer and stuff. Those are the hardest to stop, so I'd rather have three grade-A chances instead of five C's, you know?"

Both Barzal and Horvat will not be playing in Tuesday night's preseason affair against the New York Rangers. But the duo should get the chance to show off that ever-growing chemistry Wednesday night when the Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena.