Debunking the Unfounded & Untrue Mathew Barzal ‘Rumors’

Amidst a major search for a brand new general manager and/or president of hockey operations, a new rumor hit the New York Islanders. So, what are these rumors that kicked up on social media?

A non-sourced but modestly followed Islanders fan account tweeted that Mathew Barzal wants out following Lou Lamoriello’s dismissal.

This comes on the heels of Barzal’s exit interview, where he made it clear how much he cherishes being an Islander and how hard it was for him to miss 52 games this season.

The “Rumor” Itself:

The rumor itself came out of nowhere late Friday afternoon. It stated that Barzal is very close to Lamoriello, and did not take the news well. That itself is very likely true. The Islanders’ roster loved playing for Lamoriello, and the organization treated them first class.

Lamoriello signed Barzal to his current contract that ties the star forward to the island until 2031. That first sentence could be true. Where it entirely loses the plot is when it guarantees an imminent rebuild.

That is not happening. No matter who is hired as general manager, the Islanders will not be bottoming out. First, just look at the roster. While some clear areas need change, they still have a top-five goaltender in the NHL by all accounts in the league.

They possess excellent center depth, along with a superstar young defenseman in Noah Dobson, despite his down season. Further to that, they have emerging pieces like Simon Holmstrom and Maxim Tsyplakov. Alexander Romanov is just entering his prime. Calum Ritchie’s on the way and will have a major impact.

Yes, there will be a retool, but there’s no total rebuild. Not when ticket sales were where they were this year. It’s not something the ownership group will have a stomach for.

The rumor finished by stating Barzal has no interest in remaining for a rebuild. That alone could be true, but the Islanders will not be rebuilding, and even if they did, Barzal’s comments dispute this unsourced rumor.

Barzal’s Words Then:

Back in April of 2022, Barzal affirmed his desire to spend his entire career on Long Island:

https://x.com/KKurzNHL/status/1520429090788024323

That came off the back of a major down year where the Islanders missed the playoffs and fired Barry Trotz. After inking the deal, Barzal praised every single facet of the organization: https://nyihockeynow.com/new-york-islanders-mathew-barzal-long-term-extension-fanbase-long-island-eight-years/

Barzal’s Words Now:

But that was then, and this is now. Guys like Anthony Beauvillier, one of Barzal’s close friends, have left the organization. The Islanders have not had any sustained success. This season, Barzal missed 52 games. Here’s how he described missing moments with his teammates throughout the year:

“Oh, man, I mean, you miss so many moments. The boys come back from the road, talking about the road trip at the lunch table. There’s nothing better than going on the road and winning a big game. So, just not being able to be a part of that kind of stuff, it killed me. I mean, I’m not sugarcoating it. Like, it was horrible mentally. But I’m fortunate to have a lot of great guys in this room and a lot of great staff here, and coaches and management to kind of lift my spirits when things were low… It’s just a little bump in the road.”

That sure doesn’t sound like a guy ready to walk out the door. If anything, that sounds like a guy motivated to come back and be a huge part of this team. It’s no secret that guys like Bo Horvat missed having Barzal. Horvat’s production dropped by 11 points without Barzal.

As for Barzal, his teammates are everything to him: “The boys are just… this is where I would come and laugh… I wouldn’t laugh all day, except when I was at the rink. This is probably when I was at my happiest, just being here.”

Barzal on Long Island, Lou:

One of the last things Barzal said during his availability praised Long Island and the organization: “This is a great spot to play. We got a great organization from top to bottom. It’s high-class the way we’re treated.”

There’s no world where you can find his words indicating any feeling of wanting to leave this organization. Yes, Barzal loved playing for Lamoriello. No, that does not mean he wants out.

Beyond that, why on earth would the organization trade him? If they trade Barzal, there is no path to contention for years. As mentioned above, Horvat’s production dipped without Barzal. The power play generated no buzz without him all year, though that problem is admittedly bigger than missing Barzal.

The Islanders are a slower team. Barzal is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL. He gives the team an element of offense and spark that no one else on the roster can. Oh, and by the way, he’s one of two players (John Tavares) to record two 80+ point seasons since the new millennium began.

To put a bow on this entire discussion, a new regime being hired solely to generate more fan interest is not going to trade the most exciting player on the team. Let alone one who has fiercely declared loyalty and love for this place and this organization on multiple occasions, especially when the team’s offense notably sank even lower without him.