The New York Islanders [http://thn.com/isles] are separating their dynamic duo of Mathew Barzal [https://www.theelmonters.com/p/mathew-barzal-center-bo-horvat] and Bo Horvat [https://www.theelmonters.com/p/bo-horvat-new-york-islanders-overtime-goal-montreal-canadiens], per head coach Patrick Roy [https://www.theelmonters.com/p/new-york-islanders-patrick-roy-matthew-schaefer-nhl]. That's the plan, at least. With Brock Nelson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/former-islanders-forward-brock-nelson-inks-extension-in-colorado] gone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/report-islanders-will-not-be-trading-jean-gabriel-pageau] not being a true No. 2 center, moving Barzal back to his natural position seems more like a necessity. However, Barzal's game -- he likes to possess the puck and skate through the neutral zone -- fits the center mold. However, former Islanders defenseman and MSG analyst Thomas Hickey [https://x.com/hockeynightny/status/1948365145157075352] thinks that Barzal should remain on the wing. "Honestly, I like him as a winger more," Hickey said on Hockey Night in New York [https://youtu.be/MmDt8CFWRTY?si=y_5AvrCG0ktH4MSr]. "I think he likes playing center. I think he's a better player on the wing, I really do. Do I have a problem moving him to the middle like Patrick [Roy] is doing? No, and I understand why, right? Because now you can have two guys... I mean, Barzal was so dynamic, and Bo is just a really solid 1B center." The biggest takeaway is what Hickey said about Barzal's defensive game. "I'm just wondering if that's going to translate if he's going back to center full time," Hickey said. "Are we going to see all those great plays that I saw of him stripping pucks and just being a smart forechecker and having a lot more detail in his own zone?" As a center, Barzal was not the best away from the puck. However, when he was moved to Horvat's wing upon Bo's arrival in late January of 2023, Barzal seemed to learn a lot. Over the last two seasons, Barzal hasn't just cleaned things up; he has admitted to us in the media that he's actually having fun doing the little things, like backchecking and stripping opponents. In 2023-24, Barzal set a new career-high in takeaways, with 84. He recorded 70 back in 2019-20. Now, one would think that Barzal has matured as a player, so there shouldn't be much deviation in his game. If anything, he may be a smarter center than ever before because of his time on the wing. But for those that play center or just know the position, there's a lot more focus that Barzal has to have when it comes to all facets of the game. Yes, he'll be carrying the puck up a lot more rather than trying to get open. His first one-touch pass in the defensive zone to initiate a breakout, or his first few strides to create time and space, have to be sharp. But, defensively, he also needs to get back to being deeper in the defensive zone, below the dots rather than hovering the blue line waiting for a breakout pass. It's just a different game and a different mindst going from center to winger. While Barzal has been so sound defensively the last season and a half -- obviously, he missed significant time last season -- he did have Horvat to bail him out when need be, given his strong two-way game. As of now, we do not know who Barzal's linemates will be. In theory, if Calum Ritchie makes the team out of training camp as the third-line center, the Islanders could put Pageau on Barzal's wing. The two can alternate face-offs, but also, Pageau can be that defensive mind that would allow Barzal to continue to have the offensive focus. The one thing the Islanders don't want to see happen is, well, kinda what happened to Pageau when he came over from the Ottawa Senators at the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline. Pageau had 24 goals in 60 games before the trade, a 32.8 goal pace over 82 games. However, when he joined the Islanders, then head coach Barry Trotz had Pageau playing a defensive-minded role, a role he played almost to perfection. However, Pageau's offensive game was stifled as a result, only recently showcasing that he still has some offensive ability left. Now, Barzal is a much more gifted offensive player than Pageau, and we didn't see his offensive game diminish as his defensive game grew. So, this shouldn't be a problem. However, as Hickey said, it's worth considering, since the Islanders will need to play a responsible brand of hockey if they want to make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. PHOTO: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
