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NY Islanders' forward Mat Barzal will be joining Team Canada at the World Championships

ByMichael Stahurski|
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Feb 22, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Islanders 4-3 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images
Feb 22, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Islanders 4-3 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images | Tom Szczerbowski-Imagn Images

The NY Islanders' season is over after failing to qualify for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs, faltering down the stretch after holding a playoff spot for much of the season. But that doesn’t mean all the players are packing their gear and starting their summer. Today, Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News has confirmed that Mat Barzal will be joining Team Canada at the World Championship.

Barzal, completing his ninth season with the Islanders, is coming off statistically one of his best seasons in the NHL, racking up 72 points (19 G, 53 A) in 81 games.

This will be the third time Barzal has represented Canada at the World Championship, previously donning the Maple Leaf in 2018 and 2022.

Last year, Bo Horvat joined the Candia team after the Islanders missed out on the playoffs, putting together a solid tournament, scoring four goals and adding four assists in six games before suffering an injury and missing the remainder of the tournament.

Leading up to the Olympics, Horvat’s participation and success at the World Championship were likely something that benefited him in regard to making the Canadian Olympic roster. Though there is no international competition slated for the 2026-27 season, Barzal could be looking towards the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028. This could become his first stepping stone towards making that roster full of superstars.

The full roster has yet to be announced, as Barzal could be joined by other Islanders - including the likely Calder Trophy winner Matthew Scahefer.

Play will begin on May 15 in Switzerland, with the Canadians in Group B along with Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia, and Italy.s

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