IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Sat 3/8/25 8:57 PM

Barzal (kneecap) is not guaranteed to be back before the end of the regular season, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
EDGE Analysis
Barzal's injury and subsequent recovery from a minor procedure has taken longer than expected -- he was initially designated to return in the second half of March. The Islanders are on the fringe for a playoff spot and won't rush the 27-year-old back, so he'll only play again this season if he is 100 percent healthy. Fantasy managers in shallow formats can likely let Barzal go at this point since the long layoff will likely negatively impact his performance even if he can get back into action.

IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Wed 2/26/25 6:46 PM

Barzal (kneecap) was transferred to long-term injured reserve Wednesday, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
This is simply a procedural move for the Islanders, as they needed to free up cap space to activate Noah Dobson (lower body) from long-term injured reserve. It doesn't impact Barzal's timeline -- he's still expected to be out until mid-to-late March after undergoing a minor procedure on his kneecap. He has already missed six games and will be out well past the requisite totals of 10 contests and 24 days required for LTIR.

IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Sat 2/8/25 4:11 PM

Barzal had a minor procedure done on his kneecap Thursday and could be out for about six weeks, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports Saturday.
EDGE Analysis
Barzal has six goals and 20 points in 30 appearances during the 2024-25 campaign. According to the Islanders, the 27-year-old forward is on injured reserve and out indefinitely. Anthony Duclair has been playing on the top line and the first power-play unit due to Barzal's absence.

IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Tue 2/4/25 3:52 PM

Barzal (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
EDGE Analysis
Barzal becomes the seventh member of the Islanders to land on injured reserve. The move shouldn't come as a surprise given the forward has been ruled out indefinitely. In typical Islanders fashion, the club hasn't given a clear update on when the 27-year-old British Columbia native might be ready to return to the lineup, but at a minimum, it won't be until after the 4 Nations Face-Off.

IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Mon 2/3/25 2:03 PM

Barzal (lower body) is out indefinitely, the Islanders announced Monday.
EDGE Analysis
Barzal missed Sunday's 6-3 loss to Florida after being injured in Saturday's 3-2 overtime win over Tampa Bay. He has generated six goals, 20 points, 78 shots on net, 24 blocked shots and 24 hits through 30 appearances this season. Anthony Duclair skated on the top line in Sunday's loss due to Barzal's absence.

IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Sun 2/2/25 5:12 PM

Barzal (undisclosed) will miss Sunday's game against Florida, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.
EDGE Analysis
Barzal was injured during Saturday's 3-2 overtime win over Tampa Bay. More is expected to be known about Barzal's status Monday, but in the meantime, he'll miss at least one game. Anthony Duclair (illness) will draw back into the lineup and take Barzal's usual spot alongside Anders Lee and Bo Horvat.

IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Sat 2/1/25 10:12 PM

Barzal (undisclosed) was injured on a blocked shot in the third period of Saturday's game versus the Lightning, and there was no update on his status after the contest, Ethan Sears of the New York Post reports.
EDGE Analysis
The injury occurred late in the third period, which hasn't given the Islanders much time to evaluate him. If Barzal can't play Sunday versus the Panthers, Matt Martin or Anthony Duclair (illness) could be options to replace him in the lineup. Additionally, Simon Holmstrom and Jean-Gabriel Pageau could receive expanded roles.

IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Tue 1/21/25 3:32 PM

Barzal notched two assists, including one on the power play, and three shots on goal in Monday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
EDGE Analysis
Barzal is surging on offense -- this was his third multi-point effort over the last five games. He has three goals and seven assists over eight outings in January. The 27-year-old forward has 18 points (four on the power play), 65 shots on net and a plus-7 rating through 25 appearances this season. Barzal has been a fixture on the top line when healthy.

IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Sun 1/19/25 12:29 PM

Barzal registered a goal on three shots, an assist and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Sharks.
EDGE Analysis
Barzal collected both of his points in the second period Saturday, as he opened the scoring at 8:47 before setting up Noah Dobson's sixth goal of the season with under a minute left. Barzal is enjoying his most productive stretch of the campaign, having accumulated three goals, five helpers and a plus-8 rating through seven outings in January. The right-shot forward played alongside Bo Horvat for much of 2023-24, but head coach Patrick Roy has separated the two at even strength for most of this season. Barzal has struggled at times as a result, but he's found success on the top line lately with Brock Nelson and Anders Lee.

IRMathew Barzal
C/RW NYI
Fri 1/17/25 1:58 PM

Barzal scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Flyers.
EDGE Analysis
Barzal scored 30 seconds into the third period, cutting the Flyers' lead to 3-2 at the time. Barzal has been in good form lately with two goals and six assists over his last nine contests, though he has yet to earn a power-play point over 13 outings since he returned from an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old has produced 14 points, 59 shots on net and a plus-4 rating through 23 appearances.