Islanders need this version of Mathew Barzal to contend

The New York Islanders will head into a critical season in 2026-27. While the team isn’t exactly at the edge of a precipice, it is getting pretty close.

The organization made several aggressive moves last season to bolster the lineup. Unfortunately, they weren’t enough to propel the Isles to the playoffs.

The last move aimed at building a real contender was bringing in coach Peter DeBoer. But it’s not DeBoer alone who can transform the Islanders’ disappointing playoff miss into a solid campaign. DeBoer will need his star players to step up. And none is more important than Mathew Barzal.

The Islanders star forward has had some mixed results since notching 22 goals and 85 points in his first full season. It really seemed like Barzal was ready to hit another gear when he scored 23 goals and 80 points in 2023-24. However, an injury-plagued 2024-25 limited him to 30 games. Sure, he bounced back last season with 19 goals and 72 points in 81 games. But the Islanders will need more from Barzal than just being a point-per-game player.

The club will need the 29-year-old to be that dominant player he’s been at times. The organization needs the version of Barzal that was a linchpin during the Isles’ back-to-back Eastern Conference Final appearances during the COVID-era playoffs. In those two playoff runs, Barzal led the way offensively with 17 points in 22 games in 2020, and then 14 points in 19 games in 2021.

There’s another angle, nonetheless, that Barzal needs to embrace in this new Islanders era.

Islanders need Barzal to fill leadership void

This offseason, the departure of former captain Anders Lee has left a leadership void in the team. Yes, there are former NHL captains like Bo Horvat and Brayden Schenn on the roster. They can and have stepped up before.

But the team will also need Barzal to lead by example. While he may not be the most vocal guy around, his actions can speak as loudly as anyone’s words.

That’s what the Islanders need from Barzal. He wears a letter on his jersey, and must embrace the increased responsibility now that Lee is in Utah.

A healthy and productive Barzal leading the way will help the Islanders transition into a new paradigm under DeBoer. The organization made a big bet in bringing in an elite coach. So, the team must now respond. With Barzal leading the way, like he did in those fantastic playoff runs, the Islanders might just be the team to unseat the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metro Division.

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