NHL Announces Punishment Decision Over Islanders' Matthew Barzal Incident

On Monday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced the league has fined Barzal $5,000 — the maximum allowed under the CBA, although he escaped any further suspension.

“New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for slashing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Mason Marchment during NHL Game No. 603 in Columbus on Sunday, Dec. 28, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today,” the NHL said in the statement. “The incident occurred at 1:34 of the second period. Barzal was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for slashing.”

The hit on Schaefer was Marchment’s second penalty involving the rookie defenseman. He had already received a roughing minor in the first period for a separate incident.

Barzal’s reaction was just another example of how closely the Islanders have guarded Schaefer since the start of the season.

The 2025 No. 1 overall pick has impressed early in his career, scoring 24 points in 39 games while averaging nearly 24 minutes per night and anchoring the Islanders' first defensive pairing.

Barzal, meanwhile, has a record of fines for unsportsmanlike conduct and cross-checking, but he avoided further discipline from the NHL and won't be forced to sit out any game.

The Islanders return to action on Tuesday for their final game of the 2025 calendar year, facing the Chicago Blackhawks on the road with puck drop set for 8:30 p.m. ET.