Islanders Notebook: Barzal Skating With Team, Chara Close, & Koivula Development

As we get set for the New York Islanders contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, let’s open up the Islanders Notebook:

Mathew Barzal Back on Ice

For the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury on Feb. 26, Mathew Barzal took the ice with his teammates on Thursday morning.

As reported earlier, Mathew Barzal will not be in the lineup Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. After watching him at practice, he seemed to be moving gingerly with no real quick movements.

Barzal did not participate in the line rushes or either power-play units. He will miss his sixth straight contest, and with the Islanders 22 points out of wild-card spot in the East, there is no real reason to rush the 24-year old center back into the lineup.

“I think we want to find out a little bit. (It was) the first time he skated with the group,” New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “So we’ll see where he is tomorrow.”

Zdeno Chara Close

For the second straight skate, 44-year old Zdeno Chara was back on the ice Thursday morning but will miss his sixth straight contest as well. Chara suffered an upper-body injury on Feb. 26 and is currently still on Injured Reserve.

Skating-was, Zdeno Chara looks like he has looked this whole season, and Trotz said that he’s close to returning, but with the back-to-back situation Thursday and Friday, the Islanders wanted to give him an extra day.

“We just want to give him one more day with his injury going into back to back, but he’s felt really good on the ice,” Trotz said. “So I would think that he’s getting real close there.”

It is likely that Zdeno Chara slots back in on the second-line defensive pairing on Friday night against the Winnipeg Jets. We shall see if and when the Islanders skate Friday morning.

I had reported previously that the New York Islanders would be looking to move Zdeno Chara to a playoff contender. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun later said that teams had reached out to New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello about the 24-year NHLer.

The 2022 NHL Trade Deadline is fastly approaching, as Mar. 21 will be an interesting day.

Where’s Koivula At?

New York Islanders prospect Otto Koivula is up with the New York Islanders for the second time this season.

With Mathew Barzal on the shelf, a game-time decision this past Saturday against the St. Louis Blues, Otto Koivula was on standby. When Barzal could not go, Koivula was in.

Saturday was his fourth game of the season with New York, as he skated on the third line and played limited minutes in the 2-1 victory.

Koivula was not in the lineup Monday in the 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche but based on Thursday’s morning skate, he will be on a line with Zach Parise and Oliver Wahlstrom.

“He’s a young, young player who is a big body that converted from winger to center,” Trotz said when asked about Koivula and his development. “And I think the maturity has caught up to the body, and now his game is starting to display that.”

“I think he’s done what every young player does, is they keep growing their game. He’s growing it physically. He’s growing it emotionally. And I think he’s in a good spot. He’s, he’s a good prospect.”

The 23-year forward was taken in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Draft and has played four seasons with the Bridgeport Islanders. This season in Bridgeport, Koivula has scored 10 goals and recorded 26 assists in 43 games.