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New York Islanders: Mat Barzal wins rookie of the year and it could not be sweeter

By John Carroll Jr.

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 20: Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders accepts the Calder Memorial Tropy given to the NHL's top rookie onstage at the 2018 NHL Awards presented by Hulu at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on June 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 20: Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders accepts the Calder Memorial Tropy given to the NHL's top rookie onstage at the 2018 NHL Awards presented by Hulu at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on June 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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In what is already an awesome offseason for the New York Islanders, things get even better. Rookie sensation Mat Barzal won the Calder Trophy for the NHL’s best rookie.

The New York Islanders had another disappointing season in which almost nothing special happened. It was just another wasted season with no goaltending, a horrible defense, and what feels like record-breaking under achievement.

However, the brightest thing about the season was Mathew Barzal. He gets honored by the league for it too. HIs 63 assists are impressive enough. But, he is also a fan favorite and a reason for hope.

Not only are the Islanders lucky that he fell to them in the 2015 Draft at 16 overall, they are lucky enough that he is truly committing to being a great hockey player.

During the season he was taken under the wing of veteran Dennis Seidenberg. He wanted to get used to the NHL life and focus on hockey instead of getting lost in the moment.

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His dedication pays off as he becomes the first Islander to win the award since 1997 when Bryan Berard won it. I’ll save my excitement for another date on this, however, some other Islanders to win this award include Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Denis Potvin.

Not bad company to be in. Although Barzal is the obvious choice for the award it would have been the most Islanders thing ever if he got snubbed.

But, this shows that the tides are turning for the franchise. John Tavares is making a name for himself as a star in the league but it is great to see another Islander get recognized by the league and the people who know it best.

The best part is, this is not a lifetime achievement award or something. This is for rookie of the year. This is just the beginning of what will likely be a great career for Barzal.

The Islanders are about to see swooping changes in terms of getting a new head coach and likely a lot of new players. But, this award cannot be forgotten or taken away for Barzal.

The idea of a sophomore slump seems unlikely too because he is just too fast and creative with the puck that it will take time for defenses to adjust to his style.

It is a great win for him, the Islanders, and their ever so loyal fans. He had an unforgettable season and joins the Islander elite.

The only thing is, for him, he has set a really high standard. What is next? An MVP award? Who knows.

But, enjoy this Islanders fans. The future looks bright. The award might only be a trophy and a few appearances but the man behind it can be a key player in the “drive for five”.

Next: Trotz should coach the Isles

What a night. The Islanders finally won something.

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