Islanders Sign Mathew Barzal To 3 Year Extension

The New York Islanders signed Mathew Barzal to a three-year $21 million extension. Barzal can now report to camp and participate.

The big news of the offseason has finally happened! The New York Islanders and Mathew Barzal have reached an agreement on a new contract. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Barzal has signed to a three-year $21 million deal ($7 million AAV).

As an unsigned RFA, Barzal was back on Long Island and on the Training Camp roster but was unable to participate because he didn’t have a contract. The vibe the entire time was that it was only a matter of time for both sides to come to an agreement.

The hold up seemed to be the length of the deal. Allegedly, Barzal was looking for a six-year deal while Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders wanted to go with a bridge deal. In the end, they settled on a three-year deal worth $7 million a year.

According to Darren Dreger, they tried to go with six years but were unable to move the cap space necessary to do that. Instead, they will have the 23-year-old Barzal signed at a reasonable cost for the next three years, and when his deal expires he will be an RFA ready to cash in on a new deal.

Barzal, who put up 60 points (19 goals, 41 assists) In 68 games, which is a 72 point pace over a full season on the books for just $7 million is good for both sides. For the Isles, it allows enough flexibility and for Barzal he gets a nice boost with the ability to cash in at 26 years old again.

For the Islanders, the focus can go to actual on the ice things instead of the cap and other off-ice stories that took the headlines this offseason. Barzal was the last, and most important part of the offseason and now this team is set for 2021.

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With a trip to the Eastern Conference Final in the rearview, the expectations will be high for this team in 2021 and for the foreseeable future. Bring on the hockey.