Mathew Barzal's poorly time -controlled injury forced him to see the collapse of the islanders

Mat Barzal did not make it a secret of how miserable it was for him to watch the islanders out of the playoff race and do nothing about it.

The 27-year-old from Coquitlam, British Columbia, had already missed the time at the beginning of the season and worked back on an injury to the upper body, only so that his left kneecap could break just six weeks later when Barzal blocked a shot.

He missed the last 10 weeks of the season after the operation, and without him the islanders suffered a catastrophic finish, fell eleven of their last 14 games and were excluded from the race in game 78 out of 82.

“They miss so many moments,” said Barzal at the end of the season on Breakup Day. “Boys come back from the street, talk about the road trip at the lunch table. Watch the games, a big street victory.

“I wasn't decided. It was mentally terrible.”

The Was-Waren-Wenn-Barzal Health could turn into one of the greater water-wenn in franchise history for the islanders.

At the time he was injured, the islanders played their best hockey of the season. Including the victory in Tampa at night, Barzal was injured when he defended a lead in the regulation, the island dweller allowed the game with the game, but in extension the club won seven in a row, with Barzal scored six points during this period.

He was far from being the only injury, and the islanders suffered a trio from hits to their blue line around the same time, but it seemed to be the fracture.

The islands lost five of their next six on both sides of the 4 nations and could not get their offensive for the rest of the season.

If Barzal had stayed healthy, would the islanders be better positioned at the closure of the trade and hang on Brock Nelson? Would you have sneaked into the playoffs and maybe kept Lou Lamoriello for another season as General Manager?

Unlikely, but unalterable. In any case, one of the biggest questions that will go into the next season next season will also be whether Barzal can return from the jump into full strength.

If it is present, a knee problem has potential effects on a player whose game is based on skating as well as Barzal.

And no matter what the squad looks like, the islanders will be dependent on the fact that he will return to the level where he was located in 2023-24 when he set 80 points since his rookie season for the first time since his first year.

Even more than the islanders who are expected to market their individual players more with Lamoriello from the picture, is barzal an obvious candidate who – explicitly – can become the face of the franchise.

This will only increase the pressure for implementation.

He said that this low season will be anything but normal for him, and there would be no breaks in his rehab or vacation to Europe. The goal is not to miss a blow.

“Unless [the same workout regimen]Even tougher than what I did in the past, “said Barzal. I love the game, I love to be with my teammates. For me, that's a kind of everything.

“In order not to be able to play as many games as I missed mentally and physically. My journey to return to the player that I came to the camp last year is at an all -time high.”