Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period discussed the situation surrounding Mathew Barzal and the New York Islanders on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He clarified that while other teams are inquiring about Barzal, the Islanders are not actively trying to trade him. Instead, their focus is on strengthening their top-six forward group to contend for the playoffs next season.
Pagnotta explained that teams are contacting the Islanders to gauge Barzal’s availability, especially with a shallow free agency market. However, Barzal has five years remaining on his contract with a reasonable cap hit for his production, and he had a strong season. The Islanders view him as a key player for their success and are unlikely to move him unless it’s part of a major “hockey for hockey” trade involving a similarly impactful player. He stressed that while good general managers listen to offers, they also set a very high price, making a trade difficult.
The New York Islanders, under new GM Mathieu Darche, are reportedly not looking to move Barzal. Unlike a situation with Noah Dobson during contract negotiations, where the team might have considered a trade if the right offer materialized, Barzal is considered essential for the team’s playoff aspirations, especially with a veteran-heavy roster. The current sentiment is that moving Barzal wouldn’t make sense unless a significantly better player or package were acquired in return, which is not currently on the table.
English Translation:
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period joined SiriusXM NHL Network Radio with Steve Kouleas and Anthony Stewart to discuss the situation involving the New York Islanders and Mathew Barzal. When asked about Barzal, Pagnotta clarified that the Islanders are not trying to move him. Instead, it is other teams who are gathering information and inquiring about his availability.
Pagnotta reiterated that the Islanders are not actively shopping Barzal. He has five years left on his contract with a solid cap hit relative to his production, and he had a good season. The Islanders’ priority is to add another top-six winger and to build upon their recent performance to contend for the playoffs next season. Therefore, unless Barzal is traded in a major blockbuster deal, an exchange is not anticipated. However, he acknowledged that teams will continue to call because free agency is shallow, forcing teams to be creative. Pagnotta believes a trade is unlikely unless teams are significantly overpaying.
Note: It is evident that the New York Islanders, under new GM Mathieu Darche, do not wish to move Barzal. This situation differs from that of Noah Dobson, who was in the midst of contract negotiations. At the time of the initial report in February 2025, the Islanders were not shopping Dobson, but they would have considered moving him if the right offer presented itself. However, the New York Islanders need Mathew Barzal to make the playoffs and achieve success. The team still has many veterans, so the idea of trading a player like Barzal does not make sense unless a superior asset is acquired in return. Currently, no such better offer is on the table. Nevertheless, good general managers listen to proposals but set a price so high that it becomes difficult to match.
