Latest news with #MathewBarzal
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Mathew Barzal claps back: Why won't he just shoot in NHL games
Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders skates (Credit: Getty Images) New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal is tired of hearing it, but he gets it. The moment he has the puck, thousands of NHL fans erupt with the same chant: 'Shoot!' It's become as common at UBS Arena as goal horns and organ music. But according to Barzal, scoring goals in the National Hockey League (NHL) isn't that simple. Every Mat Barzal 2023-24 Regular Season Goal (ALL 23 GOALS) | NHL Highlights New York Islanders' Mathew Barzal gets candid about split-second decisions Speaking on The ForePlay Pod, Barzal addressed the 'shoot' crowd head-on. Known for his dazzling edge work, slick hands, and patient playmaking, Barzal has often been criticized for not firing the puck more. Mat Barzal's Top 10 Career Highlights Barzal, ever the technician on the ice, explained that hockey isn't a video game. Decision-making happens in milliseconds, not minutes. 'People think it's just skate and rip,' he hinted, 'but the angles, the pressure, and the goalie in front of you make it a chess match, not checkers.' Islanders fans have long clamored for their star center to shoot more, and with good reason. When Barzal does fire the puck, good things tend to happen. But from his perspective, passing often opens up better scoring lanes, especially in a league where goaltenders like Andrei Vasilevskiy cover nearly every inch of the net. Ahead of 2024-25 NHL season, Barzal hints at more aggressive shooting role Looking ahead, Islanders fans can expect a more assertive version of Barzal. With the franchise in need of scoring depth and leadership, the 27-year-old playmaker may be entering a new chapter in his career one that features a few more goals and, perhaps, a few fewer 'shoot!' chants echoing from the stands. Barzal edges out McDavid for Fastest Skater crown FAQs Why doesn't Mathew Barzal shoot more in NHL games? He prioritizes playmaking and believes passing. Often leads to better scoring chances. Did Barzal improve his shooting last season? Yes, he recorded a career-high 23 goals and 240 shots in 2023-24. Will he shoot more in 2024-25? Possibly, especially with Bo Horvat's role uncertain on his wing. Who are Barzal's hockey idols? Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, Pavel Datsyuk, and Claude Giroux. Yet in the 2023-24 NHL season, he quietly shattered expectations, posting a career-high 23 goals and a whopping 240 shots on goal 61 more than his previous record. Also Read: Acquitted NHL player signs overseas: New deal sparks hope for Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, and Alex Formenton For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Barzal & Branding: Why Player Promotion Is Vital for NHL Markets Like Long Island
It's no secret that the New York Islanders have struggled to land top-flight free agents. While success on the ice plays a massive role in accomplishing that, Long Island isn't a place that many players really know much about. When players think of New York, especially if those players are from across the Atlantic Ocean, their first thought is New York City, because that's all they know -- completely understandable. The New York Rangers, as an original six franchise that frequently appears on national television, play a significant role in this, which means the Islanders must work even harder to market their franchise. Once players get to Long Island, whether they knew about it or not, they very rarely leave. Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck, and Thomas Hickey are just a few recent players who, after their playing days came to a close, remain. But, going back to the glory days for the franchise, the likes of John Tonelli, Butch Goring, and Bobby Nystrom still reside on Long Island. So, how do the Islanders do a better job marketing their franchise as a true hot-spot destination? The easy answer is you just give Islanders star forward Mathew Barzal a microphone and ask him what he loves about being on Long Island. On Tuesday, Barzal did his first-ever podcast interview, outside of 32 Thoughts, when he jumped on the ForePlay Pod with his bud, Isanders' super fan Frankie Borrelli. When the conversation about the Islanders' future started, Borrelli paused before thanking Barzal for committing to Long Island, as he's currently about to enter the second season of an eight-year extension worth $9.15 million. Borrelli asked Barzal why he ultiamtely decided that this is where he wanted to be long term. "And another thing too, is like, it's underrated on the island," Barzal said. "Like, people don't, and I think we've said it so much, but it really is. I mean, the other day, we go play on one of the nicest golf courses in the world, and then Chris Stapleton is 10 minutes away, and all the boys stick around. But even aside from that, UBS Arena is incredible. Our practice facility is wicked. It's tight. You're 30 minutes, 40 minutes from the city, the best city in the world." Barzal bragging about Long Island is nothing new. When he signed his contract, he spoke about the fans and the beaches and the city, all that good stuff. But now, with Lou Lamoriello out, having the ability to go on podcasts and promote the Islanders franchise and the way of life here could play a part in landing free agents. As mentioned previously, especially in hockey, the chance to win is the biggest advertisement. And while the Islanders may not be a Stanley Cup contender yet, Barzal's high praise for the prospect pool and his excitement about the team's potential in the next three years is an advertisement that might attract some free agents to consider the Islanders. No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, by just the way he talks and carries himself, on top of the on-ice talent that he is, should help in marketing the Islanders as a premier destination. Having Mathieu Darche at the helm now, someone who understands the importance of transparency, the importance of marketing, and the importance of fan engagement, is vital in everything we've just discussed. Until the Islanders do land a coveted free agent, talk is cheap. However, unlike years past where the Islanders are salary-cap strapped, Darche's decisions this past offseason actually have the Islanders in a good spot come next summer, especially if he trades a player or two on expiring deals by the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline or makes some cap-clearing moves at the 2026 NHL Draft. Islanders Will Have Money To Spend Next Summer But How Much Is The Question? The New York Islanders' contracts are all but finalized. Under Lamoriello, the Islanders never truly had the money to be competitiors in the free agent market. The Hockey Hall of Fame executive did his damage around the trade deadline, landing the likes of Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau over the years. But, especially with salary caps rising and more teams having money, getting pending free agents to agree to premature extensions is only going to get harder. Branding matters and Barzal is doing the best he can to make sure people know that Long Island is a slept-on spot. Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story. PHOTO: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL Draft risers and fallers, ranking top prospects, trading picks, more: Mailbag
Today, I answered some of your questions as the 2025 NHL Draft is quickly approaching. Note: Submitted questions may be edited for clarity and style. Which top center prospects for this draft are most likely to remain centers in the NHL, and which ones are most likely to have to transition to the wing? — M L. I feel like Caleb Desnoyers is the only completely sure thing to stay at center, and Roger McQueen, to an extent, if he's healthy. Michael Misa and Jake O'Brien have good cases, but how good they are off the puck will be minor questions. James Hagens will have his size questioned until the end. Clayton Keller was a center right until he turned pro, and then he wasn't. Mathew Barzal has gone back and forth. Jack Hughes is a center, but he's bad on draws. I think the dilemma for Hagens will be where he fits on that spectrum. Brady Martin could be a center, but not everyone in the league is sold that he's smart enough. The same goes for Anton Frondell, although he's bigger and has a slightly better case to stick there. Advertisement Do you think the Rangers will give their first-rounder to the Penguins this year? If they do, what would be the 'best' outcome for the Penguins at 11 and 12? — Dr C. My guess is that the Rangers keep the pick, but I could see them leaning against it. I would have to imagine they believe they are going to be better next season. The answer to both of your questions comes down to how the top group is defined. There are about 9-11 premium centers and defensemen in this group, and a couple of premium winger prospects. Given the Rangers' drafts of late, I can't imagine they want to take another winger at 12. But in order for that to happen, one of McQueen or Victor Eklund has to go ahead of them in order to get one of the top centers or, more likely, a defenseman. That outcome seems likely enough that they should keep the pick. If they didn't, Pittsburgh probably walks out of the draft with two future top-four defenseman, or a legit scoring winger (Carter Bear, Justin Carbonneau) and a defenseman (Kashawn Aitcheson, Jackson Smith). Seeing Sascha Boumedienne consistently mocked to Nashville (23) and L.A. (24), is there any chance he goes higher than that? What can we expect his range to be on draft night? — James P. It really comes down to how much his hockey sense concerns you. If a team doesn't think it's a major issue, and quite a few do, you're talking about a high-end skating 6-foot-2 defenseman with some puck skills. That's basically Tom Willander, who went 11th. Any top picks you think might happen that we didn't see coming? (like third last year) — Anton N. I probably wouldn't put a ceiling on where Brady Martin goes, but I feel that one has gotten out there already. There was some top-10 buzz on Jack Nesbitt a few months ago, but that died down after his U18 worlds. How come Peyton Kettles doesn't get more love? He reminds me so much of Brandon Carlo coming out of Tri-City. Big kid who is more adept at using his stick than his size at this point, but should be a player at the NHL level. — Robert C. There are quite a few defensemen who fit the profile (big, mobile, not very skilled): Kettles, Carter Amico, Max Psenicka, Jacob Rombach, Simon Wang. One of them probably plays 1,000 NHL games, but I can't guarantee which one it is. Advertisement If you had to rank the last three years' top prospects in one draft, how would it go? — Rick A. 1. Macklin Celebrini 2. Connor Bedard 3. Leo Carlsson 4. Adam Fantilli 5. Matvei Michkov Outside of the top tiers of the draft, who are your favorite prospects? Basically, if you were a scout for an NHL team, who are the players you'd be pounding the table for? — Tyler C. If I were running a table, I bet I would come out of the draft with one or both of Owen Conrad (D, Charlottetown) and Maxim Schafer (C, Berlin). Conrad is a 6-3 defenseman who can skate and has shown reasonable offense in the Q. He's not spectacular offensively or overly physical. Still, he checks a lot of boxes like other defenders with a similar profile, but doesn't seem to get the same hype. Schafer is a big, highly skilled forward who plays heavy, but his skating is an issue. He impressed me a lot at the U18s, and I would have the passion to get him in the mid rounds. What's the hardest aspect of a prospect to quantify as it relates to becoming an NHL regular? What's the easiest? — Chris L. It's easier to see who is fast or not, who is big or not, and to an extent, the level of skill a player has. The error rate is probably highest for projecting NHL-level hockey IQ, and to a lesser extent, their compete level. Where would you rank Joshua Ravensbergen compared to other first-round goalies taken in the last 10 years? — Rick W. He's pretty close stylistically and talent-wise to what Sebastian Cossa was at the same age. In your opinion, why are NHL teams so resistant to making trades in/out of the top five? — Mathew B. A few reasons. One is that, unlike the NFL, it's mostly a linear talent draft with positions playing a minor variable. So, chances are high that whichever player a team wants to desperately trade up for is also someone who can highly benefit your franchise. The second is that once you make that trade, as a manager, you are being judged on two players: The one you end up picking and the one you traded away from. Advertisement Most analysts have six top players. The Flyers' nightmare scenario is that Porter Martone is the last remaining of that tier when they pick at 6. If you're the Flyers with two top-line right wingers on the roster that are almost untradable, is Martone's perceived potential that much better than the next tier of centers? — Eric F. For the Bruins at 7: If Martone is there but they desperately need a center like Jake O'Brien, what would you do? — Ryan M. I love Martone, and I would be very excited to get him at 6 in a bubble. I also think you can move wingers around, even if they're uncomfortable playing on a new side; it's not ideal, but it's a situation you can figure out. That said, I don't think the centers Philly will be debating at 6 are light years inferior to Martone, even if I think there is a small gap. I would not be offended if they went past Martone to take the next center, because top-two-line pivots simply are next to nonexistent on the open market, so eventually you have to draft one. A similar line of thinking applies to the Bruins. Every year, it seems a guy who's projected or mocked in the 4-10 range falls into the 12-20 range, and vice versa. Who do you see potentially having a draft day fall into the latter half of the lottery? Who do you see potentially jumping into that 8-12 range that was projected in the mid-to-late first? — AJ D. In your draft confidential, there was a scout who said Eklund was overrated because he was a small winger without elite offense. I have heard that sentiment a few times now. However, almost every public draft list has him ranked 8-12. How far could he actually fall on draft day? — Real Bear C. Once the playoffs are over, you will find big guys rise, small guys fall, and players with toughness tend to rise too (i.e., Brady Martin). People in the league would bet on Hagens and Eklund falling from perception for those reasons. Regarding Eklund, I don't think he even is a serious consideration for teams picking in the single digits, even if I think he should be. What prospect has the widest variance in evaluations? Example: Some evaluators peg him in the top 10 while others have him as a mid-late second-rounder. — Chris D. Great question. Cole Reschny, Jack Nesbitt, Lynden Lakovic and Logan Hensler come to mind. I have talked to scouts who have some of those players in their top 15, and some who would struggle to call their names with a high second-round pick. Is there a prospect with questionable character traits that's likely to fall and possibly become a value pick? — Christopher G. The value pick part is hard to say, but the two guys teams have probably been beaten up the most in their background research are Ivan Ryabkin and Cameron Schmidt. I remember reading an article last year about the meanest player in the draft (Gabriel Eliasson) … any players this year fit the bill? Maybe outside of Aitcheson or any other projected first-rounder? — Michael B. Malte Vass, Eddie Genborg and Carter Klippenstein come to mind. Mace'o Phillips may be the closest thing, though, to a Gabriel Eliasson/Brady Cleveland type of player. Are any of the top picks this year considered to be NHL-ready? — Billy T. I think Schaefer and Misa have very good cases to play right away. Desnoyers and Martone are probably on the bubble. I could see them teasing at camp, but they probably need another year. How difficult is it for you, and for teams, to evaluate someone like Roger McQueen when they play so little? — Alexander H. Extremely. There are so many unknowns. You knew coming into the year that he was a very talented player. He's so big and fast, and has legit skill. But I had some questions from watching him in previous years. How elite is his hockey sense? How consistent can he be? He was not a super physical type and in his brief stint toward the end of the season when he came back he was highly chippy and physical. Is that really him? Advertisement We talk about Hagens' perceived fall, and that came with extra data. If Hagens blows his knee out in October, he's probably going top five, and he probably isn't now. But we got that data from him, we didn't get it from McQueen. I've talked to scouts who are convinced that if he played all year, he would have pushed guys like Schaefer and Misa. Do you think Ryker Lee will be taken in the first round? — Aavcocup A. Yes, he's in the group of players I think could go late first/high second. A more general question, but with players appearing on lists for the 2025 draft from, Slovenia, China, Italy, France, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, with other countries at the lower level of the top tournaments in Latvia, Denmark, sometimes Switzerland and Germany, is the World Junior Division 1A going to start getting more attention, and what non-traditional country do you feel will continue to produce more and more NHL talent? — Josh T. I certainly watch that event more than I would have 10 years ago. Several players made my final 125 in part because of how they looked there (i.e., the Danish players). For the Blackhawks: Would you rather pair Connor Bedard up with a high-IQ playmaker type (Martone or O'Brien) or a more pure scorer (Frondell)? I lean toward the playmaker, but I'm curious about a second opinion. — Untitled Probably the pass-first guy in a nutshell, as I think Bedard's best assets are his hands and shot. I do think despite Chicago's public wording about how it thinks Bedard and Frank Nazar are its long-term top-two-line centers, you have to think whoever the Blackhawks pick at No. 3 this year they view as a potential option down the middle as well to play with one of them, or at least give them the flexibility to do so. (Photos of Brady Martin and Victor Eklund: Dennis Pajot / Getty Images and Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
New York Post
01-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Mathew Barzal was forced to watch Islanders' collapse after gut-wrenching injury: ‘It killed me'
Mat Barzal didn't make it a secret how miserable it was for him to watch the Islanders slip out of the playoff race, unable to do anything about it. The 27-year-old from Coquitlam, British Columbia, had already missed time early in the season, working his way back from an upper-body injury, only for his left kneecap to break just six weeks later when Barzal blocked a shot. Advertisement He missed the season's final 10 weeks after undergoing surgery, and without him the Islanders suffered a disastrous finish, dropping 11 of their final 14 games and getting eliminated from the race in Game 78 of 82. 'You miss so many moments,' Barzal said at breakup day after the season ended. 'Boys come back from the road, talking about the road trip at the lunch table. Watching the games, having a big road win. There's nothing better than going on the road and winning a big game. Just not being able to be a part of that stuff, it killed me. 'I'm not sugarcoating it. It was horrible mentally.' Advertisement The what-if of Barzal's health could, in time, turn into one of the greater what-ifs in franchise history for the Islanders. At the time he got hurt, the Islanders were playing their best hockey of the season. Including the win in Tampa on the night Barzal got hurt defending a lead late in regulation — the Islanders allowed the game-tying goal but won in overtime — the club had won seven in a row, with Barzal notching six points during that span. His was far from the only injury, with the Islanders suffering a trio of hits to their blue line around the same time, but it seemed to be the breaking point. 3 Mathew Barzal missed the season's final 10 weeks after undergoing kneecap surgery, and without him the Islanders suffered a disastrous finish. Corey Sipkin for New York Post Advertisement The Isles lost five of their next six on either side of the 4 Nations break, and aside from increasingly rare fits and starts, couldn't get their offense going for the rest of the season. If Barzal had stayed healthy, would the Islanders have been in better position at the trade deadline and hung onto Brock Nelson? Would they have snuck into the playoffs and perhaps kept Lou Lamoriello as general manager another season? CHECK OUT THE LATEST NHL STANDINGS AND ISLANDERS STATS Unlikely, but unanswerable. In any case, whatever the new regime looks like, one of the biggest questions heading into next season will be whether Barzal can return to full strength from the jump. Advertisement If it lingers, a knee issue has potential ramifications for a player whose game is as predicated on skating as Barzal's. 3 Islanders star Mathew Barzal skates up the ice with the puck during a game against the Islanders last season. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images And no matter what the roster looks like, the Islanders will be depending on him to get back to the level he was at in 2023-24, when he put up 80 points for the first time since his rookie season skating alongside Bo Horvat for much of the year. Even more than that, with the Islanders expected to market their individual players more heavily with Lamoriello out of the picture, Barzal is an obvious candidate to become — explicitly — the face of the franchise. That will only increase the pressure to perform. 3 Islanders star Mathew Barzal skates with the puck during a game against the Avalanche last season. NHLI via Getty Images He said this offseason will be anything but normal for him, and there will be no breaks in his rehab or vacations to Europe. The goal is to not miss a beat. Advertisement 'If not [the same workout regimen], even harder than what I've done in the past,' Barzal said. 'Really wanting to persevere through this. I love the game, I love being around my teammates. This is kind of everything to me. 'To not be able to play as many games as I missed sucked mentally and physically. My drive to get back to the player I was coming into camp last year is at an all-time high.'
USA Today
10-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Islanders vs. Rangers April 10: Injured players, inactives, latest updates
Islanders vs. Rangers April 10: Injured players, inactives, latest updates The New York Rangers (36-35-7) are dealing with three players on the injury report ahead of their Thursday, April 10 matchup with the New York Islanders (34-32-11) at UBS Arena, which starts at 7:30 p.m. ET. Stream NHL games and originals all season long on ESPN+! Islanders vs. Rangers game info Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025 Thursday, April 10, 2025 Time: 7:30 p.m. ET 7:30 p.m. ET TV channel: ESPN+ (Watch on ESPN+ or LIVE on Fubo) ESPN+ (Watch on ESPN+ or LIVE on Fubo) Location: Elmont, New York Elmont, New York Venue: UBS Arena NHL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Thursday at 12:37 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Favorite: Islanders (-120) Islanders (-120) Underdog: Rangers (+100) Rangers (+100) Total: 5.5 Islanders injury report April 10 Ilya Sorokin | G (Day-To-Day) Injury: Undisclosed Undisclosed Games played: 59 59 Stats: 1476 saves, 29-23-6 record Mathew Barzal | C (Out) Injury: Kneecap Kneecap Games played: 30 30 Stats: 6 goals, 14 assists, 20 points Semyon Varlamov | G (Out For Season) Injury: Lower Body Lower Body Games played: 10 10 Stats: 232 saves, 3-4-3 record Anthony Duclair | LW (Out) Injury: Personal Personal Games played: 44 44 Stats: 7 goals, 4 assists, 11 points Rangers injury report April 10 Arthur Kaliyev | RW (Out For Season) Injury: Upper Body Upper Body Games played: 14 14 Stats: 3 goals, 1 assists, 4 points K'Andre Miller | D (Day-To-Day) Injury: Illness Illness Games played: 70 70 Stats: 7 goals, 16 assists, 23 points Adam Edstrom | C (Out) Injury: Lower Body Lower Body Games played: 51 51 Stats: 5 goals, 4 assists, 9 points Watch the NHL on Fubo!
