Islanders at the Crossroads: Stars, Injuries, and Trades

Matthew Barzel

So, how close is Matthew Barzal to one hundred percent? With this injury, will he ever be the same again? Reports say that he won’t be the same player. Does that mean we should put him in as the second-line centre? How much can we expect from Matthew? Can we expect maybe 10 to 15 goals and 50 to 60 assists? With knee injuries, you will never know. The Isles are in a no-win position. They’re going to have to play it safe with Barzal; they’re going to have to wait for him. That will be rough. The key is Barzal’s desire to do what it takes to win.

Bo Horvat

How much extra pressure does this put on Bo Horvat? Bo is going to have to take a bigger role on this team. There is no doubt that he is going to have to be the number one centre. I can tell you this much: Bo is capable of putting in the points, and he’s a pure passer and a great skater. Bo has proven to be a clutch player. The Isles are going to be Bo’s team if they are to be successful. Is he capable of taking over this team? I think he has the talent.  

Semyon Varlamov

Semyon has to be healthy for Serokin to succeed. He could be playing 60 games. And we need the Varly of old, from back in the days when the Isles had the best goalie combo in the Division. Can Varly achieve that? So much hinges on his health. If he is 100 percent healthy, the Isles could have a deadly duo once again.

Could the Isles trade Horvat or Barzal?

With Barzal at $9.5 million, it will be tough. Mainly because no one knows his current health status. The teams don’t doubt his talent, but if he is not as mobile as he once was, that makes him a liability on the defensive side. His ability to make those tight turns and break on a loose puck is in doubt; without them, his value goes way down. The Isles would not get actual value for him, and they may have to keep some of the cap in a trade. As for Horvat, I highly doubt it. I do not think they consider that an option.

Last Word

The future is topsy-turvy in Long Island. Can Roy resolve the rift in the dressing room? Can Roy and Serokin get on the same page? And will Pageau be the third-line centre they so desperately need? There are still many questions to be answered.