This Superstar Just Signed a Long Term Extension with Playoff Hopefuls
Mathew Barzal has agreed to an 8-year extension worth $73.2M with the New York Islanders. Barzal, 25, will be earning $9.15M annually.
Barzal is coming off a year in which he finished with 59 points in 73 games played. The bright spot to this statline is that this was considered a down year for Barzal, as it was for a majority of the Islanders' players.
Barzal has 311 points (91 G, 220 A) in 362 games played. He typically hovers around 10-13% shot percentage, but was only at 9.3% last season.
He is entering his prime and Islanders wanted to lock him up before he reached that full potential.
The Islanders are playoff hopefuls and look to make a run for the Metropolitan Division crown following a 2021-22 campaign that included a 13-game away streak to start the year (Covid-19 restrictions), plenty of hits from the Covid bug, and the firing of big name coach, Barry Trotz.
Mathew Barzal was expected to play a large role in that prior to the extension. This deal just solidifies that role for him even more.
| POLL | ||
Where will the Islanders finish in the Metropolitan Division standings? | ||
| 1st | 10 | 16.1 % |
| 2nd | 11 | 17.7 % |
| 3rd | 21 | 33.9 % |
| 4th or worse | 20 | 32.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
