As Mathew Barzal celebrates his 26th birthday, here's the story of how he became a New York Islander back in 2015.

Forward Mathew Barzal has spent almost eight full seasons as a member of the New York Islanders organization and, over that time, has become the face of the franchise.

Barzal's signature back in September inked him to an eight-year extension worth $9.15 million, which kicks off in 2023-24. 

With the acquisition of Bo Horvat, who also signed an eight-year extension (worth $8.5 million), there's an optimistic approach that Islanders fans may get to see Barzal at his best, with a high-caliber weapon on his side for an entire season for the first time in his career. 

READ MORE: Islanders Bought Barzal Key Ingredient, Time for Him to Cook in 2023-24

The need for Barzal to be "that guy" has never been stronger. 

It's also a bit comical to look back and see how Barzal became an Islander in the first place. 

The Islanders woke up on the morning of the 2015 NHL Draft, June 26, without a first or second-round selection.

The Islanders had sent their 2015 second-round pick, along with their 2014 first and forward Matt Moulson, to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for forward Thomas Vanek back in Oct. of 2013. 

But there was a condition to that trade. 

The Islanders could choose to keep their 2014 first-round pick, which would then give Buffalo their 2015 first-rounder. And that's precisely what happened.

In May of 2014, the Islanders elected to hold onto their 2014 first, drafting Michael Dal Colle with the fifth overall pick. 

Islanders general manager Garth Snow didn't sit pick-less for long down in Sunrise, Florida, the home of the 2015 Draft, as he worked out a deal with then-Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli, trading defenseman Griffin Reinhart, their 2012 fourth overall pick, to Edmonton for the 16th and 33rd picks.

The Islanders sent the 33rd overall pick and 72nd to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for the 28th pick. The Islanders selected forward Anthony Beauvillier. 

Reinhart hadn't shown much in his eight-game stint with New York during the 2014-15 season, and the Oilers were desperate for help on the backend. With the Oilers about to select Connor McDavid with the first overall pick, they could part ways with their second first-rounder without damaging them, as long as the return was beneficial.

The Oilers thought they were getting a blue-line staple but instead watched Reinhart depreciate. They decided to leave him unprotected in the summer of 2017 ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights Expansion Draft, in which he was taken off their hands. 

Reinhart never played a game for Vegas and went overseas following the 2018-19 season. 

Back to the 2015 draft floor we go. 

After moving Reinhart, the Islanders, owners of the 16th overall pick, sat at the draft table. 

This draft class was a stacked one, with the likes of McDavid, Jack Eichel, Mitchell Marner, and Mikko Rantanen, to name a few. 

Barzal, an 18-year-old prospect, had just won the WHL Championships with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He posted 27 goals and 61 assists in 58 regular-season games before five goals and 21 assists in 18 postseason games. 

He entered his draft year as a potential top-10 pick, but 12 picks later, Barzal was still on the board. 

Could the Islanders, at 16, land the skilled centerman? 

What was the likelihood that the Boston Bruins, who owned picks 13 through 15 would not take a top-10 talent?

At No. 13, Boston selected defenseman Jakub Zboril.

At No. 14, Boston selected forward Jake DeBrusk.

At No. 15, Boston selected forward Zachary Senyshyn.

In came the Islanders, as Snow chose Barzal.

Looking back, the DeBrusk pick panned out for Boston. Senyshyn has been a career AHLer and is no longer with the franchise, while Zboril is a fringe NHL defenseman who's played 76 NHL games over four NHL seasons with Boston.

Barzal became the face of the Islanders franchise. 

It's funny how things work out in this crazy sport. The Islanders could have given the Sabres their 2014 pick rather than holding on to it. The Islanders then would have had their 2015 first-rounder, a 21st overall pick, with Barzal more than likely no longer available.