Mat Barzal is on the road with the Islanders again, and that alone counts as a positive step.
The center has joined the team for its California trip, along with fellow injured Islanders Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock. There’s still no timetable for when Barzal will actually get back into a game, but his presence on the trip suggests he’s moving in the right direction.
Barzal has not played yet while dealing with inflammation tied to the broken kneecap he suffered a couple of years ago. That issue lingered through last season and also kept him out of the World Championship.
The bigger picture for the Islanders is simple: they need Barzal back in form. The source material frames that return as part of a future pitch, alongside Matthew Schaefer, to try to convince Nikita Kucherov to come to Long Island in July 2027.
Around the league, the Jets are getting a small boost of their own with Connor Hellebuyck and the Devils coming to town, though New Jersey said the former Jet will not play against Winnipeg. GM Sunny Mehta explained the decision this way: “Connor Hellebuyck was adamant that he felt a duty to play on Tuesday in Winnipeg. However, in our estimation, playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability.”
Hellebuyck said he’s disappointed, but understands.
Elsewhere, there’s still skepticism about whether the Blackhawks’ rebuild will ever turn the corner, and despite that uncertainty, they do not appear ready to fire Jeff Blashill. The Court of Arbitration for Sport also remains in the news after saying international federations need to re-admit Russia, though that does not mean sponsors and tournament holders have to go along with it.
In Other News...
Matthew Schaefer Just Got A Contract Warning Islanders Fans Can't Ignore
Matthew Schaefers early NHL rise has already put him in the same conversation as some of the leagues most promising young stars, and Macklin Celebrini is the latest reminder of how quickly that market can move. The Islanders defenseman and the Sharks captain have crossed paths in limited head-to-head action, but their connection runs deeper than a few games, with both having worn Team Canada colors and spent time in the spotlight as franchise cornerstones before either had fully settled into an NHL routine.
Celebrinis recent extension only sharpens the focus on what comes next for Schaefer and the Islanders. For a player still building his resume, every strong stretch matters, because the numbers and the role are already pointing toward a major negotiation down the line. The bigger question now is how New York frames that next deal, and how much leverage Schaefers growing profile gives him when the time comes to turn promise into a long-term commitment. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Have A Real Opening To Climb The Metro Fast
The Islanders just came through a six-game run against playoff teams and came out of it at 2-3-1, which is hardly a disaster in a division race that still feels tight. More importantly, they did enough to keep themselves in striking distance, and the next few weeks could tell a lot about whether they can turn that into a real climb in the Metropolitan standings.
What makes the upcoming schedule so intriguing is the volume and variety, with 10 games in 19 days against a different set of opponents and only a limited number of chances to directly chip away at divisional rivals. For a team that has already shown it can hang in tough stretches, the timing matters, especially if some of the roster pieces that have been out can start filtering back in and give the Islanders a little more punch when the race tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Get Encouraging Timing On Three Crucial Returns
The Islanders are heading into a three-game West Coast trip with a little more optimism than they had a few days ago. Mathew Barzal and Matias Maccelli were both spotted in red non-contact jerseys, but the fact that they have been taking part in line rush drills is a meaningful step for a team trying to piece together its lineup on the fly.
Ryan Pulocks situation looks encouraging too, with the defenseman now in a regular practice uniform after previously being limited to a non-contact jersey. He also traveled with the team, which gives the Islanders another sign that help could be on the way as the trip unfolds, even if the exact timing of any return still remains to be seen. [Read more 🡒]