Mathew Barzal, born on May 26, 1997, is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 16th overall by the Islanders in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Notably, Barzal began his career playing in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds after being selected first overall in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.
Transitioning to the NHL, Barzal set franchise records for assists by a rookie and points in a game by a rookie during his debut season. Due to his consistent performances, Barzal was awarded with the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2018 and has consistently been a top performer for the Islanders, earning three NHL All-Star game appearances ( in 2019, 2020, and in 2024)
Internationally, Barzal has represented Canada, winning medals at various tournaments, including bronze at the IIHF World U18 Championships in 2014 and 2015, and silver at the IIHF World U20 Championship in 2017. He was also part of the Canadian team that won gold at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
Mathew Barzal's Injuries
Mathew Barzal has encountered several setbacks due to injuries throughout his career. On February 20, 2023, he was sidelined with a lower-body injury, rendering him week-to-week. Prior to this, on December 2, 2023, he faced an illness which made him unavailable for a matchup against the Florida Panthers. Additionally, Barzal dealt with lower-body injuries on January 6, 2023, and February 27, 2022. Moreover, he was sidelined due to COVID-19 on December 16, 2021. Despite these challenges, Barzal remains a pivotal player for the New York Islanders, and his absence from practices and games undoubtedly impacts the team's performance.
In addition to his injury history, there have been instances where Mathew Barzal has missed practices and games due to maintenance or minor issues. For example, on February 14, 2024, Barzal was unexpectedly absent from Islanders practice, with the team citing maintenance for their star winger. Despite playing in the previous game against the Kraken, Barzal's absence raised concerns given his importance to the team's success. Coach Patrick Roy reassured that it was a day-to-day situation and hoped for Barzal's quick return.
Notably, he missed the final two months of the 2022-23 regular season due to an ankle injury. However, he made a strong comeback following the injury.
FAQ's On Mathew Barzal Injury History
A. Mathew Barzal was sidelined with a lower-body injury on February 20, 2023, rendering him week-to-week.
A. Yes, Mathew Barzal faced an illness on December 2, 2023 which made him unavailable for selection against the Florida Panthers.
A. Before February 2023, Mathew Barzal had dealt with lower-body injuries twice.
A. Mathew Barzal was sidelined due to COVID-19 on December 16, 2021.
A. Mathew Barzal's unexpected absence from Islanders practice on February 14, 2024, was due to maintenance and day-to-day, as cited by the team.
