His point totals aren't even remotely bad, unless someone just looked at his actual totals without taking into account games played.

Going by points per game:

2017-18: 1.04
2018-19: .76
2019-20: .88
2020-21: .82
2021-22: .81

It may not make him a top superstar, but he's still a star player that's been playing under a coach that played a very defense-first system. With a little more freedom and, hopefully, some better talent on his line eventually...I'd expect his point totals to rise to where they probably should be
- eichiefs9

Yep, agree with all this.

Also, regarding the bold, I guess that's part of my surprise...I don't think he's being paid as an unquestioned top superstar...if he was, then he'd probably come in at $10m to $11m per year. What he's getting seems right to me for the player that he is...certainly a unique and elite talent to anyone who watches him play, but not the absolute best of the best. I guess I'm not seeing the egregious overpayment that The Conscience of the Internet seems to see on this.

Yep, agree with all this.

Also, regarding the bold, I guess that's part of my surprise...I don't think he's being paid as an unquestioned top superstar...if he was, then he'd probably come in at $10m to $11m per year. What he's getting seems right to me for the player that he is...certainly a unique and elite talent to anyone who watches him play, but not the absolute best of the best. I guess I'm not seeing the egregious overpayment that The Conscience of the Internet seems to see on this.
- UIF

This is actually an exceptional (recent) write-up on Barzal, with the data/video to back it up, for anyone who wants to take the time to read the whole thing

https://allthreezones.sub...ets-talk-about-mat-barzal

You were expecting 10 million plus per year?
- Cptmjl

If it went 8 years, yes I expected that.. but really thought they would do a 4 year deal for less and then he would get a boatload when he was a UFA.

This is actually an exceptional (recent) write-up on Barzal, with the data/video to back it up, for anyone who wants to take the time to read the whole thing

https://allthreezones.sub...ets-talk-about-mat-barzal
- eichiefs9

Yes he practically needs a walker to get around these days
- eichiefs9

Point is that he is what he is. A very good playmaking C.

Point is that he is what he is. A very good playmaking C.
- BINGO!

He's played his entire career, save for one consequence-free rookie season, under a guy who forced him into a system that didn't exactly suit him and had him funneling pucks to a largely-untalented group of defenseman instead of creating on his own.

Guys like MacKinnon and Barkov had a couple of mediocre-ish seasons between their rookie year and hitting superstardom. Not to suggest he's going to be on that level ever, but I don't think the door is closed on him being close to a PPG or better player. He's also had a revolving door of slow/immobile wingers to drag around for pretty much all of his time here.

If it went 8 years, yes I expected that.. but really thought they would do a 4 year deal for less and then he would get a boatload when he was a UFA.
- niteislander

So you expected a higher per year total for more years? Trying to understand the logic because that’s not usually how it works.

Yep, agree with all this.

Also, regarding the bold, I guess that's part of my surprise...I don't think he's being paid as an unquestioned top superstar...if he was, then he'd probably come in at $10m to $11m per year. What he's getting seems right to me for the player that he is...certainly a unique and elite talent to anyone who watches him play, but not the absolute best of the best. I guess I'm not seeing the egregious overpayment that The Conscience of the Internet seems to see on this.
- UIF

I don’t know about egregious but I think it’s probably a million more then I think he’s worth at this point. Like I’ve said I think he can make the contract look great he has that potential but that’s what Lou is banking on.

So you expected a higher per year total for more years? Trying to understand the logic because that’s not usually how it works.
- Cptmjl

If you are eating into UFA years then you can get more when you are only 25. If he was 32 that would not be the case b/c he would be projected to get much worse. When a 25 year old who is coming into his most productive years he can ask for more... b/c if he only got a 2-4 year deal for less. He would then get a ton of money if he becomes what we think he will be as a player. Especially if the Cap is over $90 mill.

He's played his entire career, save for one consequence-free rookie season, under a guy who forced him into a system that didn't exactly suit him and had him funneling pucks to a largely-untalented group of defenseman instead of creating on his own.

Guys like MacKinnon and Barkov had a couple of mediocre-ish seasons between their rookie year and hitting superstardom. Not to suggest he's going to be on that level ever, but I don't think the door is closed on him being close to a PPG or better player. He's also had a revolving door of slow/immobile wingers to drag around for pretty much all of his time here.
- eichiefs9

He certainly looked elite on Team Canada in the World's.

Kevin Kurz @KKurzNHL
7m
What I would term as the "fringe" guys that still have a stall in the #Isles dressing room: Bolduc, Koivula, Salo, Hutton, LaDue, Aho, Bardreau, Soshnikov, Johnston. As well as all the others you'd expect

Soshnikov has had a very strong camp, by all accounts. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he took Bellows' spot as an extra forward and they place Kieffer on waivers

Andrew Gross @AGrossNewsday
20s
So, if my math is right (and it usually isn't), #Isles cut down from 44 to 29(ish)

Looks like Räty, Dufour, Holmstrom, Durandeau, Schneider, Wotherspoon among those headed to Bridgeport (AHL)
- eichiefs9

Fixed, and…

Kevin Kurz @KKurzNHL
7m
What I would term as the "fringe" guys that still have a stall in the #Isles dressing room: Bolduc, Koivula, Salo, Hutton, LaDue, Aho, Bardreau, Soshnikov, Johnston. As well as all the others you'd expect

Soshnikov has had a very strong camp, by all accounts. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he took Bellows' spot as an extra forward and they place Kieffer on waivers
- eichiefs9

Seems to have a pretty good shot and a nice set of wheels.

Fixed, and…


- Wildschwein

He was never making the team. I'm excited to see what he does in Bridgeport.

My guess is that, if one of the scoring forwards goes down, he and Holmstrom will be first in line for call-ups, depending on which position it is

Andrew Gross @AGrossNewsday
59s
#Isles Lane Lambert on D Paul LaDue, who seems to be in mix for roster spot: "I thought he played great last night. He's physical. He just keeps it simple. He moves the puck and he's aggressive."
LaDue LaLogged 16:08 in 4-3 OT win at Philly with three shots and two hits.

Andrew Gross @AGrossNewsday
59s
#Isles Lane Lambert on D Paul LaDue, who seems to be in mix for roster spot: "I thought he played great last night. He's physical. He just keeps it simple. He moves the puck and he's aggressive."
LaDue LaLogged 16:08 in 4-3 OT win at Philly with three shots and two hits.
- eichiefs9

I didn't see last night's game but LaDue looked terrible in earlier pre-season games. I would rather Hutton get that extra 7th D-man spot... and Salo get the 6th one.

Kevin Kurz @KKurzNHL
7m
What I would term as the "fringe" guys that still have a stall in the #Isles dressing room: Bolduc, Koivula, Salo, Hutton, LaDue, Aho, Bardreau, Soshnikov, Johnston. As well as all the others you'd expect

Soshnikov has had a very strong camp, by all accounts. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he took Bellows' spot as an extra forward and they place Kieffer on waivers
- eichiefs9

funny that he had to go back to the KHL where they played him in top 6 slots to get his confidence back.

I guess I'm surprised so many don't see Barzal as a $9m/yr player in this league. I think any team in need of a 1C would gladly pay that for him, and, frankly, I'd take Barzal over quite a few centers out there who are making from $9.5m/yr to $11m.

I guess if you're just looking at point totals, that explains it. But the Isles are...well...sort of unique with how they approach the whole offense thing. Just like goalies get an "Islander bump" to their stats because of the system the team plays, I think forwards get somewhat of an "Islander penalty."
- UIF

I agree UIF. Fans and IGM's aren't taking into consideration what a said player means to a specific team team. Barzal is dynamic on the offense side of the puck and is probably one of the best skaters and puck moving players in the league. His faults are as many know, he makes some really bad decisions and turns over the puck too much. Thant said if Lou ( Who is Magical ) didn't sign Barzal there would have been pissing and moaning as well. I like the deal for both sides and I am probably one of the biggest Barzal bashers and thats because I know he has the talent and hockey IQ to keep these mistakes to a minimum. He's our most talented player and big piece of the core for the next 9 years and the Fan base should be absolutely thrilled that it was done at only 9 million. I believe he could have asked for 10.5 to 11( his agent probably did) and bent the Isles over the boards and they probably would have had to bite the bullet and sign him.

If it went 8 years, yes I expected that.. but really thought they would do a 4 year deal for less and then he would get a boatload when he was a UFA.
- niteislander

I think thats one of the reasons they went the max years now. They wanted to lock him up long term and 9 million will give the team flexibility when the Cap goes up. I think the kid is gonna have a monster year.

Lou is Magical!

This is actually an exceptional (recent) write-up on Barzal, with the data/video to back it up, for anyone who wants to take the time to read the whole thing

https://allthreezones.sub...ets-talk-about-mat-barzal
- eichiefs9

That was a good write-up...puts some science behind my bumbling observations

That was a good write-up...puts some science behind my bumbling observations
- UIF

It's interesting to see it broken down for sure. He really has changed his game to pull up on entry and look to feed it back to the point

This was the thing that got me the most:



He's feeding 60% of his shot assists to the point every time. Outside of Dobson, our blueline is a pretty (offensively) unskilled group. Not the best recipe for success

It's interesting to see it broken down for sure. He really has changed his game to pull up on entry and look to feed it back to the point

This was the thing that got me the most:



He's feeding 60% of his shot assists to the point every time. Outside of Dobson, our blueline is a pretty (offensively) unskilled group. Not the best recipe for success
- eichiefs9

I wonder what other centers / forwards pass % going to the points is? It's certainly easier to feed the point. Plus most teams strategy in the O zone is to go from High to low and visa versa until a slot or better shot opportunity opens up.

Edit: I would like to see him take the puck to the net (like McKinnon, McJesus, etc.)himself vs going to the boards upon entry and making the button hook which basically forces the pass to a defenseman.

It's interesting to see it broken down for sure. He really has changed his game to pull up on entry and look to feed it back to the point

This was the thing that got me the most:



He's feeding 60% of his shot assists to the point every time. Outside of Dobson, our blueline is a pretty (offensively) unskilled group. Not the best recipe for success
- eichiefs9

Overrated player. Lou should be fired for this contract. Barzal is going to have to start fighting to make this contract worth it.

Overrated player. Lou should be fired for this contract. Barzal is going to have to start fighting to make this contract worth it.
- Cptmjl

I’d rather he figure out how to break the 30 goal barrier before learning how to break faces.

He was never making the team. I'm excited to see what he does in Bridgeport.

My guess is that, if one of the scoring forwards goes down, he and Holmstrom will be first in line for call-ups, depending on which position it is
- eichiefs9

Me too.

One would think Holmstrom would be the first call-up between the two.