{"time":1791925502620,"blocks":[{"id":"8JTSEV-qWg","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"When the New York Islanders announced that Brayden Schenn and Matthew Schaefer were named alternate captains for the 2026-27 season, most fans loved it."}},{"id":"x0ZBamoJmR","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Nobody has any issues with either player. Schenn, a former captain of the St. Louis Blues and highly-respected veteran around the league. Schaefer, all of 19 years old, became the face of the franchise almost overnight last season with his sensational rookie season."}},{"id":"GkDniICed8","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The one thing a lot of fans pointed out, or vocally disliked, was the perceived slight toward Mathew Barzal."}},{"id":"TpxPYlrYPf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Barzal, 29, is entering his 10th full season in the NHL and his 11th total season in the league. He's played his entire career with the Islanders."}},{"id":"odxwIR7DSR","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Barzal has never worn a letter for the team. When he entered the league full-time, John Tavares served as a captain. Josh Bailey and Cal Clutterbuck wore the 'A's,' with Andrew Ladd occasionally mixing in."}},{"id":"7nLJH_mq9J","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"When Barry Trotz arrived for the 2018-19 season, Tavares was gone. However, guys like Bailey, Clutterbuck, and Ladd were all still there."}},{"id":"YpdAxCV4er","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Trotz made Anders Lee captain and Johnny Boychuk an alternate captain, replacing Bailey in that trio."}},{"id":"rhr813ufNn","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Bailey and Clutterbuck then wore the letters through the 2022-23 season full-time. Bailey retired, while Clutterbuck followed a year later."}},{"id":"xaU6sMkaDF","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Modern times saw Bo Horvat, Lee, and Brock Nelson wear the letters. Ryan Pulock and Kyle Palmieri earned their shared 'A' following the departure of Nelson."}},{"id":"knLSPianEr","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Through all this time, one thing's been consistently true about the Islanders' locker room."}},{"id":"fTz_sOIgnQ","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Everyone who has entered it, comes out praising what an incredible mix of players and leaders it is. Seemingly anyone could wear a letter and nobody would have an issue with it."}},{"id":"xXBGU_Z2Q_","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Barzal is a leader on the ice as much as anyone. One example of that came last year in Columbus, when Mason Marchment took liberties with Schaefer."}},{"id":"MCa94nX6YH","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Barzal stepped up and made sure Marchment wouldn't be trying anything funny like that ever again."}},{"id":"dBHr2SHPNb","type":"embed","data":{"service":"youtube","source":"https://youtu.be/1Diha-DLLDc?si=1U_kzUCzz5Qk0PJu","embed":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Diha-DLLDc?","width":580,"height":320,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Mathew Barzal Receives A Match Penalty For Slashing Mason Marchment","site_name":"YouTube","description":"All Footage Belongs to The National Hockey League.12/28/2025","image":{"url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1Diha-DLLDc/hqdefault.jpg","type":"jpg","width":"480","height":"360"}}}},{"id":"X22LO4IYRH","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Off the ice, Barzal continues to be a major face in the community for the Islanders, consistently putting himself out there to be a leader."}},{"id":"Rqj9gJSnfd","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Just today, Barzal surprised cancer survivor and diehard Islanders fan Tommy Ryan on Fox & Friends, making the young man's day and showing how the Islanders are there for their fans."}},{"id":"fPGokHUNFi","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/foxandfriends/status/2110041042657452408?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2110041042657452408","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"Cancer survivor and @NYIslanders fan Tommy Ryan credits watching the team with helping him push through a rare leukemia diagnosis and 150 days in the hospital.\n\nToday, his favorite player @Barzal_97 surprised him live on air—and shared how Tommy's strength continues to inspire him during his own re…","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/2110039817887064064/img/ett2CQ45dT4E1IPq?format=webp&name=large","type":"image/webp","width":"1080","height":"1920"}}}},{"id":"xNk1RImp8F","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"No, Barzal may not have an official letter this year. That doesn't mean he isn't a leader on this team, nor does it mean he isn't essential in the locker room."}}],"version":"2.31.6"}

Former Islanders Defenseman & MSG Analyst Thomas Hickey Named Amazon Monday Night Hockey Analyst