The New York Islanders finally had something to feel better about on Thursday morning: Mathew Barzal was back on the ice by himself for the first time since he reaggravated a left kneecap injury in the offseason.
That doesn’t mean he’s ready to jump back into the lineup, but it is a meaningful step for a team that has had a rough stretch. The Islanders were already dealing with a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday, and then came the news that Alexander Romanov suffered a torn ACL and will miss the next six to eight months. For a club trying to settle in under a new head coach while also missing its most dangerous offensive weapon, the injury list is starting to grow fast.
Barzal’s progress matters because there’s at least a path toward a return not too far down the road. General manager Mathieu Darche said last week that once Barzal starts skating again, he might only need a handful of practices before he is cleared for game action. If everything goes smoothly, a return sometime next week could be in play.
That said, there’s nothing automatic about it. Barzal still has to prove his knee can handle the grind of skating, practicing and then playing at NHL pace. He also missed training camp, the preseason and the start of the regular season, so the Islanders are not going to force the issue just to get him back a little sooner.
Even with those caveats, his return would be a major lift. Barzal led the Islanders with 72 points last season, and his speed and creativity give the offense a completely different look. Right now, that kind of spark would go a long way.
In Other News...
Islanders Get Encouraging ESPN Respect But One Name Will Divide Fans
ESPNs latest top-100 NHL player list gave the Islanders a respectable showing, with four names making the cut and enough variation in the placements to fuel debate. Matthew Schaefer, Ilya Sorokin, Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal all landed on the board, a sign that the broader league still sees a mix of established talent and upside in New Yorks core.
The headliner for Islanders fans is Schaefer, whose rise into the upper tier should only sharpen expectations around him. Sorokins place near the top of the goalie group also reinforces how valuable he remains after another standout season, while Horvat and Barzal provide the kind of familiar star power that keeps the discussion going. Of course, any list like this comes with at least one ranking that will have plenty of fans arguing the other side. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Finally Got A Varlamov Return They Desperately Needed
Semyon Varlamovs return gave the Islanders a meaningful lift on a night when the result went the other way. Back in an NHL regular-season game against the Rangers for the first time in 676 days, the veteran goaltender looked like someone who could still matter in a hurry, even as the Islanders came up short. For a club that has leaned heavily on Ilya Sorokin, getting Varlamov back into the mix changes the shape of the goalie conversation in a real way.
Peter DeBoer made it clear after the game how significant that comeback is for the Islanders, praising Varlamovs effort and the stability he can provide as the backup. There is still plenty to sort out as he settles back into game action, but the bigger picture is hard to miss: the Islanders finally have a healthy Varlamov again, and that alone gives the team a more credible safety net behind Sorokin. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Suddenly Face A Blue Line Shakeup Before Chicago
A familiar defensive look suddenly got scrambled for the Islanders ahead of their matchup with the Blackhawks, with Alexander Romanov now out after suffering a knee injury. His absence forces another early-season adjustment on the blue line, and coach Peter DeBoer had to rework the pairings at the morning skate before the club could settle into its game plan.
Scott Mayfield appears set to slide into Romanovs spot, with Tony DeAngelo next to him as the Islanders try to keep the back end steady. It is the kind of change that can ripple beyond one night, because Romanov has been a fixture in those minutes and the team now has to manage a sudden gap while waiting for the rest of the defensive rotation to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]