New Star Forward Available on the Trade Market?

A lot of big-name players have been swirling around the rumor mill as we close in on the busiest part of the NHL offseason.

---

The futures of superstars Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, and Quinn Hughes, among others, have been discussed ad nauseam, though on Monday a surprising new name surfaced as a potential summer trade chip: Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen shared the report in his latest article, saying that the Islanders are exploring the market for Barzal, with the idea of clearing some cap space.

Garrioch wrote:

“A league executive told The Citizen that the New York Islanders are exploring the market for forward Mathew Barzal. The club would like to clear some cap space, but it’s a big financial commitment with four years left at $9.15 million through 2030-31.

Reports indicate the Utah Mammoth kicked tires on Barzal last summer, but opted not to make the move. Barzal, 29, finished with 19 goals and 72 points in 81 games with the Isles last season, but that salary would be tough for the Senators to swallow,”

The 29-year-old Barzal has five years remaining on the eight-year, $73.2 million contract extension he signed with the Islanders back in 2022, which includes a 22-team no-trade list.

While Barzal does take up a large chunk of New York’s salary cap picture, he has been their best offensive producer throughout his career, and moving on from that certainly wouldn’t signal a team looking to compete for a playoff spot.

If they come across an offer that blows their socks off, then perhaps Barzal finds himself a new home. That said, with the recent arrivals of Matthew Schaefer and Peter DeBoer, the Islanders aren’t rebuilding. They want to win now and moving forward, and Barzal is more likely than not to remain a huge part of that.

Next: Vancouver Canucks Hire Manny Malhotra as New Head Coach