New York Islanders: Analyzing the team as season hits 61 games

4 of 5

GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 22: Mathew Barzal (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Hey Rookie, Welcome to Awards Night

Mathew Barzal has a great chance to win the Calder Trophy. When Doug Weight ruthlessly benched him,which nearly single-handedly cost the Isles a game, it showed his true value.

61 games in and 21 games left and Mat Barzal is still a top NHL rookie. Despite the slight struggles to the big league pace, he is usually better than most players on the ice in general.

His speed and offensive awareness is a blast to watch. Although, the Canucks’ Brock Boeser has been the leading candidate for the NHL’s rookie of the year award, Barzal has a real shot at it.

An Islander has not won this award since 1997. It is time for a team that has constantly had young talent emerging to finally break through.

An award is just an award but the player behind the award is special.

Barzal’s chase for history is a year-long thing. The year is not over yet.

Home/New York Islanders