Mathew Barzal Sidelined Six Weeks Following Knee Surgery

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun provided an update on Mathew Barzal’s recovery timeline earlier today. According to LeBrun, Barzal underwent a minor procedure on his injured kneecap on Thursday. While the typical recovery time is around six weeks, Barzal is expected to rejoin the Islanders’ active lineup sometime in March, whether sooner or later than the estimated timeline.

The Islanders officially placed Barzal on injured reserve, but this is purely a procedural move to free up a roster spot. The team had already announced on Monday that Barzal, along with defenseman Scott Mayfield, would miss time due to lower-body injuries. Barzal, 27, was injured during Saturday’s overtime win against the Lightning when he took a slapshot to the knee from Darren Raddysh. Although he skated off under his power, further evaluation ruled him out for an extended period.

This marks the second time this season that the Islanders will be without their highest-paid player for a significant stretch. Barzal previously missed 21 games earlier in the season with an upper-body injury, also sidelining him for about six weeks.

When healthy, Barzal’s offensive production in the 2024-25 season has been underwhelming. In 30 games, he’s managed just six goals and 20 points, with a career-low shooting percentage of 7.7%. His 0.67 points per game rank third on the team but are the lowest of his career, falling below the 0.76 mark he set during the 2018-19 season.

Barzal is in the second year of an eight-year, $73.2 million contract extension he signed in October 2022, carrying a cap hit of $9.15 million. After delivering strong results in the first year of the deal, including a point-per-game pace, his production has dipped, with declining shooting accuracy becoming a concern. His contract also includes a 22-team no-trade clause, effective since July 2023.

Barzal’s move to the wing, following the acquisition of Bo Horvat in 2023, coupled with ongoing injuries across the Islanders’ roster, has led to frequent changes in his linemates. He has spent time playing alongside Horvat, Anthony Duclair, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau this season.

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In Barzal’s absence, the Islanders’ top-six wingers will include Duclair, Lee, Kyle Palmieri, and Maxim Tsyplakov. While most of the group has been steady, Duclair has struggled with injuries and limited production, recording just eight points in 23 games after signing a four-year, $14 million contract this summer.

The Islanders have been battling injuries throughout their roster but managed to end a seven-game win streak before falling to the Panthers. Despite these setbacks, they are now within four points of a playoff spot. General manager Lou Lamoriello has been proactive in addressing blue-line injuries, acquiring Adam Boqvist, Tony DeAngelo, and Scott Perunovich to stay competitive. However, losing Barzal, a key offensive contributor, is a significant blow to an already struggling offense.

Lamoriello could consider placing Barzal on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) to free up cap space around the trade deadline, but this would require Barzal to remain out until at least March 4. Currently, the Islanders are one of the most cap-strapped teams in the league, with just $1.95 million in space, per PuckPedia.

As for Mayfield, his day-to-day status suggests he may not return until after the 4 Nations Face-Off but is expected back soon after. With Noah Dobson and Ryan Pulock also sidelined, the Islanders are currently without their top three right-shot defensemen. In the meantime, the team will rely on a makeshift group that includes Boqvist, DeAngelo, and left-shot Perunovich playing on his off-side.

Mayfield, 32, has been a reliable presence with seven points and a +14 rating in 50 games. However, his 17:33 average ice time is the lowest it has been since the 2017-18 season.

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