Islanders president Lou Lamoriello mum on Mathew Barzal's contract talks
Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders skates against the Washington Capitals at UBS Arena on Thursday, Apr. 28, 2022 in Elmont, New York. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Mathew Barzal repeatedly has expressed a desire to remain with the Islanders, and president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said “without question” the organization wants that outcome for its top playmaker.
But until any deal is signed, the question of the center’s long-term future with the Islanders will linger.
Of course, this is not the same as 2018, when former captain John Tavares bolted to Toronto as an unrestricted free agent. Barzal, 25, will be an impending restricted free agent with arbitration rights as he enters the last season of a three-year, $21 million deal. So the Islanders do have some protection from losing another star player.
When asked about any negotiations between the sides and how to keep the issue from clouding the team’s season, Lamoriello said on Monday: “First of all, those are discussions that you’ll never get from our players or myself. It’s just a philosophy we have in the organization. But communication is the key word. Honesty on anything you do.”
Lamoriello spoke before the Islanders’ annual charity golf outing at Glen Oaks Club. Veterans will report for training camp on Wednesday and the first on-ice sessions will be held on Thursday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
Barzal won the Calder Trophy in 2018 after scoring 22 goals and matching Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier’s team rookie record with 63 assists. But he hasn’t compiled more than 62 points since and had 15 goals and 44 assists in 73 games last season as the Islanders missed the playoffs.
Former coach Barry Trotz struggled last season to find suitable linemates who could anticipate Barzal’s unique puck-handling skills after right wing Jordan Eberle was lost to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft.
Trotz did coax Barzal to play more responsibly defensively over the past four seasons.
Asked about the expectations for Barzal under new coach Lane Lambert, Lamoriello said: “Continue to become the better player that he’s become each and every year. We expect a lot out of him. He expects a lot out of himself. He’s worked very hard during the summer for that. He’s without question one of our leaders. Without question probably our most talented player. He’s committed, without question. He’s ready to prove a lot of things and I’ve got total confidence in him.
“I’m his biggest fan.”
Lamoriello almost certainly will have to hand out the Islanders’ priciest average annual value to re-sign Barzal. The anticipation is that Barzal’s deal, which could go up to eight seasons, likely will have a salary-cap hit of about $9.5 million.
“I love Long Island so it’s somewhere I’d want to stay,” Barzal said last week during the NHL’s media tour in Las Vegas. “I would like to be there. It obviously is a business. But at the end of the day, I love Long Island. So if we can make it fair and both sides are happy, then I’d sign tomorrow.”
Lamoriello declined to comment when asked if a deal can be reached before the season starts.
“I’m not going to get into any conversations,” he said.
Anders Lee, who went through a similar situation in 2018-19 as an impending UFA before agreeing to a seven-year, $49 million extension, said he does not think this will be a distraction for Barzal.
“Barzy’s a smart kid,” Lee said. “He’s grown up quite a bit. It’s a big year for anyone that’s going through this. It’s just part of how this all works and I’m not worried about how that’s going to affect him. There’s not going to be anything that’s going to be pulling him away from his focus on the ice.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
