The wait for Mat Barzal’s return may be stretching a little longer than some Islanders fans hoped.
When New York announced that Barzal would travel with the club on its annual California road trip, it opened the door to the idea that the star forward might finally make his season debut during one of the three games out west. But according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the more realistic target now looks to be the Islanders’ next home date.
“So it sounds like they’re eyeing next Tuesday, which is their next home game,” Pagnotta said on The DFO Rundown.
That would mean Barzal likely sits out tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Kings, even though he has been taking part in practice in a full-contact jersey. He recently skated in place of JG Pageau, who was out for a maintenance day, and that setup suggested Barzal still isn’t quite ready to jump back into game action. Seeing him at center on the third line is not the kind of deployment you’d expect if he were on the verge of returning.
Barzal has been out while dealing with complications from a knee injury suffered during the 2024-25 season. A blocked shot against the Tampa Bay Lightning in February of 2025 ended his season early. Before that, he had been remarkably durable, appearing in 81 of 82 games last season, with his only absence coming because of a one-game suspension issued by the team.
There is still a chance the final game of the trip, Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks, could be the night he gets back in the lineup. For now, though, Pagnotta’s update points to a return at UBS Arena rather than on the road.
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