Islanders: 3 other players who deserved to go to All-Star Game

Mathew Barzal is the only representative for the New York Islanders at this year’s NHL All-Star Game. If anyone else could join him who would you send?

Like most years, the New York Islanders will have a single representative going to the NHL All-Star game. This year, Mathew Barzal is the Islanders lone ambassador. I know, what a surprise! (Note the heavy sarcasm.)

Of course, Barzal going to be the Islanders representative at the NHL All-Star Game. He leads the team in goals, assists, and points. He’s the star of the team and the face of the franchise. He’s also dynamic at the 3on3 format of the All-Star game.

Last year, in his first trip to the All-Star festivities, Barzal was the talk of the town. Lining up with Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, Barzal put up five points in the championship game alone.

After winning last year’s 3on3 tournament, Crosby raved about the Islanders youngster and his skill at 3on3 (and 5on5):

“The way he holds onto the puck, the way he skates, 3-on-3, I mean, I don’t know if there is anyone better when it comes to holding onto it,” Crosby said. “The way he can just beat you 1-on-1, beat you with his speed, hold onto it, you know, watching him out there against the best, and I don’t see anyone that really beats him in that category.

Again, it makes sense that Barzal is going. He deserves to go.

But what about other players on the roster? Who else might have deserved to go to the All-Star Game?

I’m stopping short of calling this a snub list because I understand why some of the names I’ve come up with didn’t end up on the final roster. But when I look at the goalies who were selected to the Metro’s All-Star team, and that neither one of them are from the New York Islanders, it’s clear there’s at least one snub.

Brock Nelson

Brock Nelson has been the Islanders second-best player since Barry Trotz took over in 2018. The much-maligned center had a standout year in 2018-19 when he scored a career-high 53 points.

Not only was he putting up points but Nelson was the Islanders best two-way player from day one all the way through to the end of the season. Something we had yet to see in Nelson’s five previous seasons with the team.

This season, Nelson is building off that career-year in 2018-19. Through 38 games Nelson has 14 goals and 30 points. That puts him on pace for 30 goals and 65 points by the end of the season.

He’s been used in all situations by Barry Trotz and is counted on to be a big part of everything the Islanders do. He’s undoubtedly been an All-Star for the Islanders this season.

To their credit, the NHL has taken note and placed Brock Nelson on their “Last Man-In” Ballot. So if a player or multiple players from the Metro can’t show, or don’t show, Nelson could have a shot at stepping in.

With Alex Ovechkin already stating he won’t go and Jake Guentzel picking up an injury the Metro division is already short 20 percent of their All-Star roster. Specifically, they’re down two of their primary goal scorers. Brock Nelson fits a “need” if that’s even a thing at the All-Star game.

I hope that with two open spots Brock Nelson goes to the All-Star. That means two of the most maligned Islanders players of the decade – Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson – will have made the All-Star Game due to their outstanding play.

Anthony Beauvillier

He’s been the Islanders most consistent forward this season. Anthony Beauvillier hasn’t let up since the start of the 2019-20 season. Over his now four seasons in the NHL, this is the first time we can say that about the former first-round pick.

With ten goals and 23 points in 38 games, Beauvillier is on pace for 22 goals and 50 points by the end of the season. That’s one heck of a jump from the 28 points he scored last season.

It hasn’t just been his play on the puck that has taken a giant step forward. Beauvillier is a full 200-foot player for the Islanders. Last year, Beau was a weakness in the defensive end. He wasn’t very strong on the puck and wasn’t always in the right spots.

But this year, he’s fixed both of those issues. Whatever he did over the summer is working. Beau is significantly stronger on the puck. He’s also seemingly always in the right spots defensively. And in a system like Barry Trotz’s where hard word yield results, the points are coming for Beau.

Think of a 3on3 tournament where Anthony Beauvillier and his buddy Mathew Barzal get to play. Toss in, let’s say, Seth Jones, to complete the trio and get ready for maximum fun.

I’ve been pushing for Anthony Beauvillier to get to the All-Star game to reward his stellar play this season. It would have been nice to see him go. But I get why he didn’t. A 50 point player isn’t about to be named to the All-Star Game. Certainly not one from the New York Islanders at least.