New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal isn't just satisfied with making the playoffs. More on his play this season and his leadership on and off the ice.
New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal isn't just satisfied with making the playoffs. More on his play this season and his leadership on and off the ice.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal had a tremendous season.
Entering the first year of an eight-year extension, the 26-year-old played to the level the organization needed to see, setting a new career-high in goals with 23, adding 57 assists for an 80-point campaign, his highest total since his Calder-winning season.
He shattered his career-high in shots on goal by 61, with 240 this season, and grew into his role as a winger, playing that spot for a full season for the first time in his eight-year NHL career.
Unfortunately for Barzal and the Islanders, the individual performances didn't change the overall result.
The Islanders were bounced out of the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes for a second straight season, this time in five games as opposed to six in 2023.
"Obviously, it's frustrating," Barzal said during his exit interview on Friday morning. "I thought the series really could have gone either way. Just a couple of bounces here and there and unfortunate plays that didn't go in our favor.
"But, at the end of the day, we're men, and we're honest with ourselves, and we lost, and they played a good series. But I do think that the character and compete that we showed as a group within that series (was strong)."
Barzal had two goals and three assists in five postseason games, scoring the double-overtime game-winner in Game 5 to keep their season alive.
The Islanders' series with the Hurricanes was closer than what a 4-1 series loss may look like on the surface. That's not to say New York deserved to win the series, but they never got the best the Hurricanes had to offer and had the ability to be up in the series heading back to Long Island.
But all that matters is reality. The Islanders are out, but Barzal thinks that looking at the teams still playing, this group can compete with anyone in this league.
"I really feel like we can compete with anyone in the league. That's truly how I feel. I feel like this team, with the goaltending, the physicality on the backend, and the skill we have upfront...Carolina is a Cup-contending team. They got some guys at the deadline. They're making a push. I really thought we played them hard and that series could have gone either way."
Looking back to the regular season, it was a tough one for everybody, with the ups and downs, the coaching change, and the injuries, particularly to the backend.
Making the playoffs was clearly a goal, one that first-year head coach Patrick Roy played a vital part in.
But just making the playoffs isn't enough for the face of the franchise.
"It's been three years now where we haven't got over the hump in the first round," Barzal said. "There's a high standard here with Lou and Patty, and our owners, obviously, putting the money into the new rink and everything. There's a standard that they want, and I like that.
"Just because we got to the first round or got to the playoffs, it's not a successful season, per se. Obviously, I want to be a part of something that has that kind of standard and wants to win, and I definitely feel that with Lou and the entire organization."
It was evident the entire season, whether it was hearing quotes like the few above or him making a statement regarding accountability on his part of the team, that Barzal has grown tremendously as a leader in the room.
"He definitely took another step, and I think that's what they were asking of him," Islanders forward Casey Cizikas said. "He took that in running. He led us the entire season. He was a force the entire year and led us in the playoffs. And you know, he definitely took a big leap (with his leadership) in my opinion."
Barzal may not have worn an "A" this season, but that didn't matter.
He's always had a voice, but when you lead on the ice the way Barzal did this season, that certainly allows for your voice to hold more weight.
"I think he just continues to take a step every year," Islanders captain Anders Lee said. "I think he really took a step in terms of his play on the ice as a leader and doing all the little things as much as he could. I think you really saw that down the stretch, him doing things that you don't normally see, and see him growing as a player. He's such a solid person and he cares. He's a competitor. The guy competes. Like everyone else in this room, he can't stand losing.
"I think you saw that fire from him. And that goes a long way."
Kyle Palmieri echoed Lee's sentiments regarding No. 13.
"I've seen it every year since I've gotten here," Palmieri said. "When he first came into the league, playing against him, you saw how dynamic he was and his ability to take over a game, just with his skating. There are not many guys who can do that to be able to possess the puck like that, but his growth off the ice has been incredible.
"He's a guy that comes in and works hard. He's one of the last guys to leave every day and he is always taking care of his body. So I think it's stuff like that when you're a young guy coming in and you see a guy that's had that much success and the way he carries himself, it's good for guys to be able to see that a day in and day out."
This is Barzal's team and the Islanders' success going forward more or less rests on his shoulders. There's a ton of elite talent in the NHL but being a leader, on top of that, is invaluable to a team trying to get over a hump.