Mathew Barzal Is Much More of a Plus than a Minus for the New York Islanders 

Mathew Barzal on the Minus Side

The biggest criticism of Barzal has been his pass-first mentality. Analysts have questioned Barzal’s low goal totals. The contention is that if Barzal shot more often, he would have a higher goal total. 

That assertion makes sense. Last season, Barzal’s shooting percentage was 9.6%. That’s not bad. But it’s actually low compared to his career average of 10.7%. His highest shooting percentage came in his rookie campaign where he registered a 12.9%.  

Assuming Barzal continues scoring at a 10% rate, shooting more often could easily translate into a 30-goal season. 

The other noticeable flaw in Barzal’s game is his relatively low faceoff percentage. Last year, Barzal notched a 43% faceoff percentage. That number isn’t a significant drawback, considering that Barzal isn’t a center. 

Lastly, Barzal was a minus-4 last season. That’s an area that needs to improve, especially since the Isles don’t have the firepower to overwhelm opponents in high-scoring games. 

The Verdict 

Mathew Barzal is the New York Islanders’ most talented forward. He’s the engine that drives the team’s top line. With two legitimate top-line partners, Barzal is poised for a big season.  

In my estimation, Barzal could easily top 80 points. But it wouldn’t be a stretch to visualize 100 points on the horizon.