Will Barzal’s Injury Lead to Islanders Becoming Deadline Players?

The New York Islanders received a significant setback on Monday, announcing that star forward Mathew Barzal will be sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

#Isles Injury Updates: Mathew Barzal is out indefinitely with a lower body injury. Scott Mayfield is day-to-day with a lower body injury.

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) February 3, 2025

---

Barzal, 27, sustained the injury in Saturday’s overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning when he took a slap shot from Darren Raddysh to the knee. He managed to skate off under his own power but was absent from Sunday’s loss to the Florida Panthers as he underwent further evaluation.

This marks the second extended absence for Barzal this season after he missed 21 games earlier in the campaign with an upper-body injury.

Barzal has struggled offensively this season. He has six goals and 20 points through 30 games. His 7.7% shooting percentage is a career low, and his 0.67 points per game are the worst full-season pace of his career. Still, the Islanders will certainly feel his absence.

The Islanders sit a few points outside a wildcard spot in the playoff race. Barzal’s injury, if it shows an immediate impact on the ice, could lead to the Islanders becoming trade deadline sellers.

The Islanders May Be a Team to Watch Heading Into the Deadline

Barzal’s injury might merely make a decision to start trading pieces at the deadline easier for the Islanders. There has already been chatter about how much interest there will be in Brock Nelson. Kyle Palmieri, Mike Reilly, Tony DeAngelo and a few others are pending UFAs as well.

With injuries piling up, general manager Lou Lamoriello could explore placing Barzal on long-term injured reserve to free up cap space. That would give New York cap space to buy if they are convinced that going the other way is the better course of action. Their path to the postseason just became significantly more challenging, but Lamoriello doesn’t exactly operate by the book.

Additionally, defenseman Scott Mayfield is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body ailment, further compounding the team’s injury concerns.

Next: Boston Bruins’ Playoff Hopes Are Hanging by a Thread