Mat Barzal recently opened up about the tough experience he had watching his team, the New York Islanders, struggle without him during the playoff race. The 27-year-old forward from Coquitlam, British Columbia, faced a challenging season after suffering an upper-body injury early on. Just six weeks after returning, he broke his left kneecap while blocking a shot, which sidelined him for the last 10 weeks of the season following surgery.
Without Barzal, the Islanders faced a rough end to their season, losing 11 of their final 14 games and getting eliminated from playoff contention in their 78th game. Barzal expressed his frustration, saying it was painful to miss out on moments with his teammates, like celebrating victories after road games. “It was horrible mentally,” he said.
At the time of his injury, the Islanders were playing some of their best hockey, having won seven straight games, with Barzal contributing significantly. His absence was felt deeply, especially as the team struggled with injuries to other players as well. The Islanders lost five of their next six games after his injury and couldn’t find their offensive rhythm for the remainder of the season.
Looking ahead, Barzal’s health will be a key focus for the Islanders as they prepare for the next season. Questions remain about how his knee will hold up, especially since his style of play relies heavily on skating. He finished the previous season with 80 points, his best performance since his rookie year, and the team will be counting on him to regain that form.
Barzal has committed to a rigorous offseason training regimen to ensure he returns to full strength. He’s determined not to let his injury define his next season. “My drive to get back to the player I was is at an all-time high,” he stated. As the Islanders look to rebuild and improve, Barzal is poised to become a central figure in their plans moving forward, especially with the expected changes in the team’s management.