Islanders Mathew Barzal can still make All-Star Game: Time to rock the vote

The list of players headed to the NHL All-Star Game in Vegas is in and the New York Islanders lone representative is not Mathew Barzal. It's Adam Pelech.

The Islanders top defensive defenseman is heading to Vegas to rep the blue and orange. And he's the only one going. For now. It's a huge honor for Pelech and well deserved for the defenseman. He doesn't dazzle the league in terms of offense, but he does so with his top-end defensive play.

New York Islanders: How to get Barzal to the All-Star Game

A player that does dazzle offensively is Mathew Barzal and for now, he'll stay on Long Island during the Vegas festivities. Which feels kind of weird. Barzal is built for 3on3 play and is the reigning All-Star Game's fastest skater. He seems like the perfect type of guy to have at the All-Star Game, no?

But Barzal still has his chance to get into the All-Star Game as one of the "Last-Men In". He's one of eight players fans can choose from in the Metropolitan Division to join the other group of players already named to the All-Star Game.

Here is Barzal's competition for Last-Man In:

Andrei Svechnikov (Carolina Hurricanes)
Jakub Voracek (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Jesper Bratt (New Jersey Devils)
Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers)
Cam Atkinson (Philadelphia Flyers)
Jake Guentzel (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Evgeny Kuznetsov (Washington Capitals)

Remember, Barzal is the reigning fastest skater in the NHL and as it stands right now he won't have a chance to defend that title.

In a typical season, I'd say Barzal (or any player) might not care about not being named. Usually, players are tired from the grind of half an NHL season. But by the time the All-Star Game takes place (February 5), the Isles will have played 39 games with a number of massive breaks. Barzal might relish a little 3on3 action with some of the elite players in the league.

You can vote Mathew Barzal into the All-Star Game through the NHL's Last-Men In portal. You can vote up to 10 times a day until January 17. So stuff that ballot for Barzal.