Islanders News: The Barzal extension is the best news we’ve had in a while

Oct 5, 2022 - 12:20 PM

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Yesterday was a big day for the New York Islanders. Their franchise player committed to them for almost another decade, which is much more consequential than the fact that the Islanders pulled out a road preseason win in overtime.

Mathew Barzal, who spent most of his summer on Long Island singing its praises, will officially remain on Long Island for the next nine years after signing an eight-year extension. It’s welcome news for a franchise not used to its star players sticking around. Perhaps having this out of the way allows Barzal to thrive.

Barzal Section

• The new deal will pay Barzal a total of $73.2 million at a cap hit of $9.15 million. [LHH] And per Pierre LeBrun, that’s $9.15 million of straight salary every season of the deal—no signing bonuses, no salary bumps or dips—and carries a ten-team trade list after the first season.

• Barzal had said in his 32 Thoughts interview that he considered himself a New Yorker. He reiterated how much he loves being here in his media appearance. [Islanders]
• He also loves us, his fans. Our “love and support” fueled this contract extension. [The Athletic]
• It wasn’t a one-way street, though; throughout the process, Lou Lamoriello also conveyed his admiration for Barzal and his hopes that he’d remain an Islander. [amNY]
• The deal makes Barzal the highest-paid Islander of all time. And he had no thoughts of going anywhere else. [Newsday]
• One day, I hope never to hear another bedsheets or pajamas joke, but we can put to bed any notion of Barzal wearing Vancouver Canucks pajamas. [NY Post]
• Lamoriello wanted this deal done before the season began, fearing a “distraction.” [NHL]
• Andrew Gross joked yesterday that the Barzal news had no shot of making Newsday’s back page after Aaron Judge smacked no. 62. But at least he got second billing on both the front and back covers.

Preseason Recaps and Other Isles News

• In a back-and-forth affair (though not exactly a wild one), the Islanders won in extra time over the Philadelphia Flyers. [Islanders | NHL]
• It was a special teams special episode, including a gorgeous shorthanded goal for Casey Cizikas and Noah Dobson’s overtime power-play winner. [3 Takeaways]
• The projected lines for the upcoming season, at least according to this article, are the ones with which you are familiar. [amNY]
• The B-Isles announced their training camp roster, which looks a lot like the cut list from a few days ago.

Beyond Long Island

• Danny DeKeyser did not make the Canucks, who released him from his PTO. [TSN]
• The San Jose Sharks played a German team and were impressed by the fans' passion. [NHL]
• Rankings, rankings, rankings: This time, we’re ranking goalie tandems. The Islanders come in at no. 2, one behind their crosstown rivals, whom Greg Wyshynski admits are no. 1 purely because of one guy—sort of defeating the whole “tandem” thing. And I pay money to read this. [E$PN+]
• The Canadian government grilled Hockey Canada’s woefully inept and out-of-touch board members, who unsurprisingly do not think they are the problem, despite the mess they have overseen and done nothing about (or worse, have covered up). [Sportsnet | ESPN/AP]