What for some appears to be an ordained or blessing of talent, Mathew Barzal says that had little to do with getting him to where he is today.
The Burnaby Winter Club product has utilized an intense work ethhic to drive him in his route to the National Hockey League.
The NHL’s top scoring rookie with the New York Islanders, Barzal is starring in a highlight reel of plays where he does the magical, the incredible and the superlative.
Although genetics and family encouragement played huge parts in his development, the main element has been that roll-up-your-sleeves kind. From the age of 13, his name was often bandied around in the same discussions as like-aged Connor McDavid, despite the fact both teens had a lot of growing to do.
Now 20, Barzal says his game continues to evolve, but that’s something he’s determined to work on. There is no waiting for elements out of his control to come together.
“Where’s my game grown the most? Probably just goal scoring, because previously I didn’t score quite at this pace,” Barzal told the NOWSunday after the team’s practice. “I have more goals now than I did in the (Western Hockey League) last year. That’s made a bigger (stride) than my passing.”
A goal last week at the Molson
Centre in Montreal highlighted both his speed and anticipation at work. There was the move – picking up a loose puck at centre ice, blowing past Canadiens’ blueliner Noah Juulsen, before backhanding the puck in the net at full speed.
His celebration was that of a classic goal scorer. When your team’s on a six-game losing trend, any opportunity to boost the morale and set a tone is appreciated. Scoring goals is great, he admits.
His dad Mike was a fast forward
with the 1983-84 Penticton Knights, whose best player Brett Hull set a junior A record with 105 goals in 57 games. The father passed along his workman attitude about giving your all, and the son has put it to work on the ice.
The leading candidate for the Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best rookie, the Burnaby Winter Club alumnus came into this season ready to work.
“The great thing about Mathew is that he knows the better he plays the better our team plays,” Islanders head coach Doug Weight said. “He’s really become a guy like John (Tavares), guys in the league who know how they go (is) how our team goes.”
Prior to Monday’s game in Vancouver, Barzal stood 15th overall in NHL scoring, with 18 goals and 49 assists in 66 games. Hard to believe it took seven games before he registered his first NHL goal, beating Henrik Lundquist at Madison Square Gardens.
Since then, he’s been on a tear, with three five-point games and the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for February. Monday’s game was hyped as a showcase between the Canucks’ Brock Boeser and Barzal, but Weight feels these distractions are for others to worry about.
“They both are having tremendous seasons and both very good hockey players, but when it comes down to it, you want to have success as a team. That’s the most fun, and (Barzal) knows that,” said the coach.
He doesn’t deny the game was in the back of his mind for some time.
“I probably started thinking about it a month now,” said Barzal, who met a handful of children after practice, some wearing his Islander No. 13 jersey. “It’s pretty exciting. It’s pretty tough not to think about. It’s a big game for us and a big game for me, the first time playing in front of my family and friends.”
Last year’s run to the Memorial Cup gave him a chance to play in big, important games, and eased any disappointment he had of not sticking in New York after two games. There’s a fine line to developing talent, Weight said, but playing and leading his peers was a crucial opportunity.
“It could have gone two ways. It really could have. … For him, we had long discussions whether it would help him or hurt him. Ultimately, it came down to Mat. He made the decision to go back and work on his game and areas to make himself better,” said Weight.
Hockey has been No. 1 for him since his dad signed him up at the age of four. He chose to sign with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds a year after they made him the first overall pick in the bantam draft.
In 2015, a broken knee cap that sidelined him for 28 games caused some NHL teams to overlook him, and New York capitalized by trading up for the 16th pick overall.
Last year he missed 30 games with Seattle but still contributed 10 goals and 69 assists over 41 games.
Getting to this place, where a dream has become real and the hard work is a given, is part of his core. Just like the game.
“I’d say (hockey is) everything about me. When I was young I was obsessed with the game; you grow out of that a little bit but at the same time I’m always that kid at heart,” he said. “I love to come to the rink and practise. Just being a hockey player is part of my life. I’m OK with that.”
Veteran teammate Andrew Ladd, who like Barzal played briefly with the Coquitlam Express, notes it’s a huge jump for any rookie. But the Coquitlam native is already an impact player for his team.
“(Barzal’s) puck control, (and) his speed through the neutral zone is one of the best in the league, so to be able to say that of a first-year player is pretty special.He’s been fantastic for us offensively and does a great job of driving that line,” said Ladd. “The main thing for when you look at young guys is that they show up, put the work in and he does that each and every day to get better.”
