Mat Barzal’s offseason has had the usual mix of home, travel and hockey, but one stop stood out above the rest.
The Islanders star said he spent part of the summer back in Vancouver, BC, and also made time for Long Island, where he hung out with teammates and friends in the city. He also got home for a family milestone, saying he was there for his grandma’s 95th birthday, “which was a big one.” Beyond that, his international detours were limited to Germany and a few days in Mallorca, Spain.
Barzal also had a busy stretch away from the rink for personal reasons. He called Anthony Beauvillier’s wedding “so much fun” and said he was “lucky enough to be a groomsman,” which gave him a behind-the-scenes view of the celebration. He added that “The dance floor was great at the wedding” and called Beauvillier “one of my best friends.”
But the biggest highlight of his summer, by his own account, came in a hockey setting. Barzal helped coach at the Toronto Exposure Cup alongside Tony DeAngelo, and he said, “That might be the highlight of my summer, honestly.”
Working with 13- and 14-year-old players gave him a new angle on the game, and he said being “behind the bench” was “a blast.” Doing it with DeAngelo made it even better, since Barzal described him as “one of my closest friends.”
That relationship also made DeAngelo’s new deal a welcome development for Barzal. Asked about the defenseman’s two-year extension, Barzal said he was “so excited” when it happened and felt getting it done mattered “for our team on the ice and off the ice.”
As for the Islanders’ coaching future, Barzal said he has already had some conversations with Pete DeBoer and came away impressed. He pointed to DeBoer’s “great pedigree and track record” and said he’s eager to learn from him as he tries “to take my game to the next level.”
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