There will be plenty of time to dissect an Islanders season that went south fairly quickly, as they limp to the finish with an 18-30-8 record since December 1st and a second straight year out of the NHL playoff picture.
What that means for John Tavares and his future in an Islanders uniform is no clearer as of Wednesday, ahead of what could be the captain's final game in front of the home fans.
"I haven't even thought about that, but now that you bring it up … I don't know, I'm just going to try to go about my business the same way." he told the media scrum.
"I don't want to signal it as the end. I'm not approaching it that way, so I'm just trying to play one game at a time and focus on finishing strong and worry about my situation in the days and weeks that come after the season and take some time to decompress from the year, and then start to look forward."
If Tavares were to leave the Islanders, the team will be in good hands as a fresh, new face will be asked to take over the number one center role. And that face is presumed Calder Trophy winner Mathew Barzal.
After the Boston Bruins famously passed up on drafting Barzal three straight times in the 2015 draft, rumored to be because of his "cocky" attitude, general manager Garth Snow selected the 20-year old with the 16th pick. Less than three years later, Barzal has repaid their selection in spades.
After posting 278 points in 202 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, that attitude that the Bruins shied away from turned out to be confidence all along. Confidence in his abilities and confidence that he can play with the best the league has to offer and not look out of place. The type of confidence needed to be a star at this level.
While getting his feet under him this season, the 6-0, 190-pound center went pointless in his first five appearances. That could have shaken him, but instead it drove him. With three points in the Islanders' 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, Barzal is guaranteed to finish the season with a points-per-game average of 1.00 or greater. He currently sits at 22-60-82 in 80 games.
While driving possession at a 5v5 Corsi of 53.3, Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier have given the Islanders their first duo of 20-goal scorers before the age of 21 years in the same season in team history. Barzal is also the third-highest scoring rookie in Islanders history, and needs three assists in his final two games to tie Bryan Trottier's rookie team mark.
What about league history, you ask? He shines there as well. Barzal is one of only eight rookies with 60 assists in a season, and one of only four in the last 18 years with at least 82 points (Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin). Pretty good company, eh?
We can spew numbers all the way into another column, but the fact remains when you're talking draft picks, especially outside the top 10, there is never a guarantee. There were some, myself included, who just didn't know what to expect out of Barzal as a pro. Until they get here and start playing against seasoned veterans of the league, it's all a guessing game. Even the best scouts around the league will readily admit to that.
Barzal has come in, done and said all the right things, became quickly assimilated to the clubhouse and worked...and worked….and worked, each and every day to get better. And whether you want to believe it or not, there is still room for him to improve. There are still times where a shot is better than a pass, and still times where his defensive zone coverage needs to be better.
I'm betting, however, that nobody knows that better than him.
*Barzal historical statistics courtesy of Islanders statistician Eric Hornick.
