Value of: Mathew Barzal

[ALEXIVICH CHULKATURI]

I believe the Summer of 2023 will be the best free agent class of all time. And to be frank the 2024 class isn’t to far behind either. Now Long Island isn’t the most attractive spot for a young forward but I’d like my team to have all the cap space that Is needed to offer a max contract to Pasternak/McKinnon/Larkin/Matthews/Aho/Nylander. I don’t like Matt Barzal. I think he’s a selfish globe trotter who plays to much east west game ala an Alexei Kovalev. He thinks he’s Connor Mcdavid when truth of the matter is his play is like Connor Mcdavid after a half bottle of ouzo. I don’t want to give him 8 years 80 million and to be truthful I think it will cost more. So Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles what are you offering??? And one more thing if the Islanders weren’t interested in offers the rumor of the Red Wing package for him at the deadline would have never seen light. They’re interested, trust me...

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[MisterT]

And how many of them actually reach free agency?

 

[WingsMJN2965]

That’s a great UFA class… Until you realize that most, if not all of those guys will be re-signed in the 2022 offseason.

 

[ALEXIVICH CHULKATURI]

That’s a great UFA class… Until you realize that most, if not all of those guys will be re-signed in the 2022 offseason.

Of course you very well could be right but I bet you at least half make it to UFA status. Cause what is the most important word that causes us from starting a revolution, it’s shopping.

 

[Siludin]

I have a feeling if Matthews is going UFA, he's looking to head to Arizona.
If Arizona signs Matthews, they'll probably also be able to get another big name player on the pretense that they are going to "be good".
They'll have a series of recent top draft picks ready to make the team and bust out around that time.
Figuring that's Arizona's game plan in any case.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Isnt Matthews a 2024 UFA?

 

[HabsQC]

Isnt Matthews a 2024 UFA?

Yes he is.

 

[mouser]

Title updated

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

I believe the Summer of 2023 will be the best free agent class of all time. And to be frank the 2024 class isn’t to far behind either. Now Long Island isn’t the most attractive spot for a young forward but I’d like my team to have all the cap space that Is needed to offer a max contract to Pasternak/McKinnon/Larkin/Matthews/Aho/Nylander. I don’t like Matt Barzal. I think he’s a selfish globe trotter who plays to much east west game ala an Alexei Kovalev. He thinks he’s Connor Mcdavid when truth of the matter is his play is like Connor Mcdavid after a half bottle of ouzo. I don’t want to give him 8 years 80 million and to be truthful I think it will cost more. So Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles what are you offering??? And one more thing if the Islanders weren’t interested in offers the rumor of the Red Wing package for him at the deadline would have never seen light. They’re interested, trust me...

I can guarantee you, That 100% of those players will never see free agency next year.

 

[Schmooley]

Ive been hoping he becomes available and the Kings would offer a boatload for him. Cant see it happening unless maybe the Islanders flounder badly next season.

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

I have a feeling if Matthews is going UFA, he's looking to head to Arizona.
If Arizona signs Matthews, they'll probably also be able to get another big name player on the pretense that they are going to "be good".
They'll have a series of recent top draft picks ready to make the team and bust out around that time.
Figuring that's Arizona's game plan in any case.

Is that about the time they'll be moved into an actual NHL arena again?

 

[CupHolders]

I believe the Summer of 2023 will be the best free agent class of all time. And to be frank the 2024 class isn’t to far behind either. Now Long Island isn’t the most attractive spot for a young forward but I’d like my team to have all the cap space that Is needed to offer a max contract to Pasternak/McKinnon/Larkin/Matthews/Aho/Nylander. I don’t like Matt Barzal. I think he’s a selfish globe trotter who plays to much east west game ala an Alexei Kovalev. He thinks he’s Connor Mcdavid when truth of the matter is his play is like Connor Mcdavid after a half bottle of ouzo. I don’t want to give him 8 years 80 million and to be truthful I think it will cost more. So Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles what are you offering??? And one more thing if the Islanders weren’t interested in offers the rumor of the Red Wing package for him at the deadline would have never seen light. They’re interested, trust me...

It’s like you just dusted off the Tavares pre UFA threads. Where you called for the Isles to move from Tavares and build on younger players… like Barzal.

Who would you like the Isles to prop up next, only to give up before actually giving any supportive players?

You’re likely not getting a better player trading Barzal. The package you get for Barzal likely gives them more of what they have, and less of what they need… more depth, less skill.

So then what? Waste the years of Pelech, Pulock, Dobson and Sorokin while hoping and waiting on landing another skilled player to build on?

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

And how many of them actually reach free agency?

Hahaha.

 

[CupHolders]

Ive been hoping he becomes available and the Kings would offer a boatload for him. Cant see it happening unless maybe the Islanders flounder badly next season.

Likely if they do flounder next season, then that is most likely when Barzal would become available rather than this offseason.

But if someone wants to overpay now with another better top line center around the same age… then sure go at it.

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Likely if they do flounder next season, then that is most likely when Barzal would become available over this offseason.

But if someone wants to overpay now with another better top line center around the same age… then sure go at it.

If Barzal is in the team, I don't think they'll flounder.

 

[The Real JT]

After the Tavares fiasco the Isles will never let this happen.

If he has any reservations about staying, the Isles will pony up more money and/or keep him happy with a new supporting cast via trade or UFA. The latter approach could hurt a team with a thin prospect pool but they’ll do what’s needed to keep him.

 

[Patdud]

Is that about the time they'll be moved into an actual NHL arena again?

Yeah in Houston

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I have a feeling if Matthews is going UFA, he's looking to head to Arizona.
If Arizona signs Matthews, they'll probably also be able to get another big name player on the pretense that they are going to "be good".
They'll have a series of recent top draft picks ready to make the team and bust out around that time.
Figuring that's Arizona's game plan in any case.

Is Matthews really going to want to play in an arena with the same capacity as a poorly attended high school hockey game?

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

Matthews either resigns with the Leafs id give it 90% he does, or signs with LA, Anaheim, or Vegas.

 

[ALEXIVICH CHULKATURI]

It’s like you just dusted off the Tavares pre UFA threads. Where you called for the Isles to move from Tavares and build on younger players… like Barzal.

Who would you like the Isles to prop up next, only to give up before actually giving any supportive players?

You’re likely not getting a better player trading Barzal. The package you get for Barzal likely gives them more of what they have, and less of what they need… more depth, less skill.

So then what? Waste the years of Pelech, Pulock, Dobson and Sorokin while hoping and waiting on landing another skilled player to build on?

And I was right on Tavares for he played that last year as if his heart wasn’t on the Island and guess what it wasn’t. Listen the last 24 hours I’ve done some genuflecting and using the word hate to describe the kid was wrong. I’m upset, I believe he could be this generations Adam Oates but he has regressed from his 82 point season three years back and that has to be a tad concerning. We must get him his Cam Neely. That should be easy....

 

[drw02]

Would love to know more about this Barzal to Detroit rumor, specifically what Wings were offering. Too bad Yzerman and Lou are as tight lipped as it gets. Would love to have him in Detroit tho, extactly the type of playmaking 1A/1B C they need. Hopefully talks get rekindled this summer.

 

[SI90]

Would love to know more about this Barzal to Detroit rumor, specifically what Wings were offering. Too bad Yzerman and Lou are as tight lipped as it gets. Would love to have him in Detroit tho, extactly the type of playmaking 1A/1B C they need. Hopefully talks get rekindled this summer.

the isles are getting Bertuzzi and Puis Suter lol

I wish there was a certain hand gesture emoji to put after that

 

[CupHolders]

And I was right on Tavares for he played that last year as if his heart wasn’t on the Island and guess what it wasn’t. Listen the last 24 hours I’ve done some genuflecting and using the word hate to describe the kid was wrong. I’m upset, I believe he could be this generations Adam Oates but he has regressed from his 82 point season three years back and that has to be a tad concerning. We must get him his Cam Neely. That should be easy....

My point is not that the Isles should not have moved from Tavares. It is that I feel you advocated for going with younger players, and now at the first season of adversity you are looking to overhaul again. I think you are...

1) Creating a revolving door of turnover (giving up on a player too soon. One who has performed In the playoffs)
2) Not ever getting a comparable return if you trade him. Thereby creating an even bigger hole
3) Not reading the rest of the roster (Sorokin, Dobson, Pelech and Puloch are a viable core for the next 6-8 years)

I just think it's foolish to rush to judgment based on this year. I'll take my chances with the Isles improving next year through a more normalized situation and offseason roster improvements that include Barzal. Of course if next year is another failed season, then it does become reasonable to revaluate moving Barzal and likely several other players.

 

[CupHolders]

the isles are getting Bertuzzi and Puis Suter lol

I wish there was a certain hand gesture emoji to put after that

Here's one

I can't see Lou accepting Bertuzzi, due to the whole vaccine thing (not looking to politicize it). It's just a fact that the only unvaccinated individual in the organization (Bode Wilde) was sent abroad for that reason. Also Pius Suter as a Detroit UFA signing and soon to be UFA again... was already passed over as an Islander camp invitee three/four years ago. The last part shouldn't technically matter... but it's still a tough one to digest. It just feels like this trade is the beginning of a sequence of events where the assets gained are moved/lost later on for further diminishing returns.

EDIT: To be clear, the above is my opinion... I have no clue if Lou has some hard rule about vaccines. He did this year though.

 

[CupHolders]

Would love to know more about this Barzal to Detroit rumor, specifically what Wings were offering. Too bad Yzerman and Lou are as tight lipped as it gets. Would love to have him in Detroit tho, extactly the type of playmaking 1A/1B C they need. Hopefully talks get rekindled this summer.

Art Staple has never leaked anything substantial from Lou as the Isles beat writer (it was a running joke on the Isles board). Then months after leaving the organization he posts something and immediately retracts it... just seems hard to accept as something significant. I have no doubt that Lou has discussed trading Barzal to a number of teams. But I wouldn't be surprised if that has more to evaluate the general market and establish future contract parameters.

But assuming a potential trade with Detroit. I can definitely see Detroit generating a package worthy of Barzal's value. I just can't see how it would address the hole of moving Barzal. Unless the Isles are filling that from somewhere else.