GDT: GDT #11 New York Islanders @ Buffalo Sabres| November 1st | 7:00 PM | F/W 4-3

[MJF]

Again, I get the frustration with Barzal, but it seems to be a way over the top at this point; he’s puts up .88 pt/game over his career and helped Horvat to his second best offensive season in his career last year. He definitely needs to drive to the net more and cut back on the endless circling, but to suggest the team is better without him is ludicrous. yeah, they won without him last night, but they played the Sabres. And if you watched that game last night and compared it to their previous ten, they looked less impressive last night.

The game was a more up and back affair. Our possession numbers were off from previous games, likely because Barzal was out. That also means we have to defend better and be better at taking out the opponent at center ice so they can’t set up in our end. I don’t think we’ve been good at all at this part of the game so far.

Id just release him at this point

Or make a Lafontaine trade with him. I’m pretty sure the return could solve a few problems for us.

I just don’t want Lou Lamoriello to be the one to make that decision. New Isles GM first.

 

[Throttle]

Id just release him at this point

Nope, make the trade to swap him out. Get a better overall player or youngish players.

Make the Lafontaine deal, the Tkachuk deal, the Yashin deal, etc.

Trade him to change the composition of the roster and how it plays. Bc it’s not doing much of anything with him being the centerpiece of it - that’s pretty clear.

 

[leeroggy]

I don’t think there is a player in the NHL who could thrive with Barzal playing the style he’s played since he broke into the NHL. He must stop taking sweeping routes that end with him near the perimeter looking to dish.

If you listen to Goring on the broadcasts, he disagrees on that
He feels Mat is most effective when going wide instead of to the middle. Says it opens up the passing lanes more

 

[MJF]

If you listen to Goring on the broadcasts, he disagrees on that
He feels Mat is most effective when going wide instead of to the middle. Says it opens up the passing lanes more

I’ve heard Butch say thy osw things. In theory it should happen. In practical terms on the Islanders it doesn’t happen enough.

We don’t have finishers. Barzal can pass all day long but if the team isn’t positioned well to receive those passes, don’t skate well enough to keep up with Barzal, misses the net or shoots into the goalie’s chest c, maybe after 500 games of him on the Island its fair to want to build a roster in a different direction.

Lou signed Bo Horvat and everyone here said Barzal finally has the guy to run with him. Then 11 games into this season the folks here are grumbling that Barzy doesn’t have anyone who can take advantage of his unique skills-his wheels and ability to hold onto the puck. It a never-ending issue here. To me its ann argument that ends up in the same place every year…Barzal and the other 22 guys on the roster. We can’t upgrade the 22 thanks to Lou. There’s another way to solve our problems. Change Lou and Barzal