Mathieu Darche explains why NY Islanders are playing long game with Mathew Barzal

New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche isn't ruling Mathew Barzal out for opening night just yet.

Darche provided a more encouraging update Thursday, one day after the Islanders announced Barzal would not skate for approximately two weeks because of inflammation stemming from a previous knee injury.

The Islanders open the regular season Sept. 30 at Toronto.

"We said two weeks," Darche said as the Islanders opened training camp at Northwell Health Ice Center. "Could we say 12 days? Thirteen days? Ten days? He still has a chance for opening night."

Darche confirmed the issue is related to the left kneecap injury Barzal suffered while blocking a shot on Feb. 1, 2025. Barzal required surgery and was limited to 30 games that season.

Barzal returned to play 81 games last season, missing only one for disciplinary reasons, and led the Islanders with 72 points on 19 goals and 53 assists.

"It's something that we've been managing for over a year," Darche said. "Every now and then there's some inflammation. Just over the summer, as he ramped up, there was a bit more inflammation. So we just want to make sure that we control it. It's nothing new."

Barzal, 29, is entering the fourth season of an eight-year, $73.2 million contract.

Darche said the decision to keep Barzal off the ice came after discussions with the team's doctor, Barzal and his agent following Wednesday's physical.

The Islanders aren't interested in pushing their leading scorer back simply to meet the opening-night deadline. "We're just playing the long game here," Darche said. "We'll have to manage it all the time because he did have an injury in his knee."

That doesn't guarantee Barzal will be in Toronto. But after Wednesday's announcement raised questions about his availability, Darche made one thing clear Thursday.

Opening night remains a possibility. And if not, that's okay with the Islanders, too.

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