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Player Profile: Mathew Barzal

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Andrew Walsh | Last updated Jul 8, 2026 4:53 PM ET

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Mathew Barzal was born on May 26, 1997, in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. Barzal began his hockey career with the Burnaby Winter Club under-15 team of the Pacific Coast Bantam Hockey League. Barzal’s father, Mike, also played professional hockey for the Penticton Knights of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. In 51 games played for the Burnaby Winter Club, Barzal scored 55 goals and added 98 assists. He also scored six goals and added nine assists in six playoff games played this season.

Barzal then moved to the Vancouver North East Chiefs AAA team in the British Columbia Elite Hockey League. In 34 games played during the 2012-13 season, Barzal scored 29 goals and added 74 assists. He then scored three goals and added three assists in six playoff games this season. The question remained: how would Barzal’s game translate to the highest levels of the sport?

Mathew Barzal Drafted Number One Overall in the 2012 WHL Draft

The season before being drafted by the New York Islanders, Barzal was a standout center for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. Barzal scored 27 goals and added 61 assists in 58 games played for the Thunderbirds. Barzal was drafted by the Thunderbirds with the first overall pick in the 2012 WHL bantam draft. This was an impressive season at one of the highest levels of hockey in the world.

This sentiment was echoed by Russ Farwell, who was the general manager of the Thunderbirds at this time. “His puck handling and agility are special,” said Thunderbirds general manager Russ Farwell when describing Barzal’s best attributes. “Matt’s a very driven, focused guy and wants to be a player. His ability to find the open ice, lead the play and create time is special.” He certainly showed these attributes during his first season with the Thunderbirds.

During his second season with the Thunderbirds, Barzal continued to put up prolific offensive numbers, scoring more than a point per game. Barzal scored 12 goals and added 45 assists for a total of 57 points in 44 games. At only 17 years old, Barzal would have to wait one more season before possibly being drafted into the NHL. He was one of the more experienced players on the Thunderbirds heading into the next season, though.

Barzal was named an alternate captain for the Seattle Thunderbirds during his third season with the team. While playing in a leadership role with the team, Barzal scored 27 goals and added 61 assists in 58 games played during the 2015-16 season. The Thunderbirds made the WHL playoffs once again, and Barzal scored seven goals and added 18 assists in 16 playoff games. This season did nothing to dissuade NHL teams from drafting Barzal in the first round.

Mathew Barzal was drafted by the New York Islanders with the 16^th Overall Pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft

Mathew Barzal was drafted by the New York Islanders with the 16^th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft out of Coquitlam, British Columbia. The Islanders did this despite not having a first-round draft pick going into this draft. The Islanders acquired the 16th overall pick in the 2015 draft as part of a draft day trade with the Edmonton Oilers, who acquired defenseman Griffin Reinhart. As a 6’1” and 190 lb. forward, Barzal was seen as a two-way forward who was willing to take on players who were much bigger than him. How would Barzal perform at the NHL level, though?

In his rookie NHL season with the New York Islanders, Barzal scored 22 goals and added 63 assists for a total of 85 points in 82 games played. Barzal, who became the seventh rookie to accomplish this statistical feat, won the Calder Trophy after this season, becoming the first Islander to do so since defenseman Bryan Berard won the trophy after the 1996-97. “This is an amazing honor to win the Calder Trophy,” Barzal said. Barzal was also named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team for this season.

Mathew Barzal Leads in Points, but the Islanders Miss the Playoffs

Mathew Barzal scored 19 goals and added 53 assists in 81 games played for the New York Islanders during the 2025-26 season. These 72 points were the most of any player on the Islanders’ roster. The Islanders finished the season with a record of 43-34-5. These 91 points were good for sixth place in the Metropolitan Division. Rookie standout Matthew Schaefer had the second most points on the team with 59 and won the Calder Trophy.

Barzal is in year four of eight of a $73.2 million contract that he signed with the Islanders in October of 2022. The one thing that Barzal has not done in his NHL career is win. At 29-years-old, Barzal may be looking to move off Long Island to chase a Stanley Cup.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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