Mathew Barzal Bio
Mathew Michael Paul Barzal is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 16th overall by the Islanders in the first round of the 2015 NHL entry draft, Barzal has developed into one of the franchise’s most dynamic offensive talents. He stands 6 feet 0 inches tall, weighs 86 kilograms, and wears jersey number 13 for New York. Barzal won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2017-18, becoming only the fifth Islander to earn the award.
Early Life and Background
Mathew Barzal was born on May 26, 1997, in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. He grew up in the Greater Vancouver area and developed his hockey skills in Burnaby, playing for a local youth program that represented the region on a national stage. In 2010, he competed with that Burnaby youth team at the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, an early signal of his promising future in the sport.
Barzal attended school through the French immersion program, which gave him fluency in both English and French. The bilingual foundation he built in the classroom later proved valuable off the ice, helping him form close friendships with French-speaking teammates throughout his career. His commitment to education and language skills reflected a maturity that complemented his on-ice work ethic during his teenage years.
Path to Professional Hockey
Barzal’s junior career began in earnest when the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) selected him first overall in the 2012 WHL bantam draft. He joined Seattle for the 2013-14 season and immediately produced at a high level, recording 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points in his rookie campaign. Those numbers established him as one of the most exciting young playmakers in the Canadian Hockey League.
By the midterm rankings ahead of the 2015 NHL entry draft, Barzal had climbed to seventh among North American skaters, cementing his status as a first-round talent. On the international stage, he helped Canada capture bronze at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships and won gold at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. The following year, he again represented Canada at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championship, where he earned a second bronze medal and met future teammate Anthony Beauvillier.
Mathew Barzal Career
Early Career (2016-2017)
The New York Islanders selected Barzal 16th overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft, and on September 10, 2015, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club. He made his NHL debut on October 15, 2016, but returned to the Seattle Thunderbirds shortly afterward to continue his development. That decision paid off when Barzal helped Seattle win the 2017 WHL championship and was named WHL Playoff MVP after registering 25 points, including 7 goals and 18 assists, in 16 postseason games.
His dominant playoff performance reaffirmed that he was ready for a full-time NHL role. Barzal returned to the Islanders with confidence and momentum, ready to begin his rookie season in earnest.
NHL Breakthrough (2017-2018)
Barzal’s first NHL point came on October 15, 2017, when he assisted on a goal by Josh Bailey against the Los Angeles Kings. Four days later, on October 19, he scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. Less than two weeks after that, on October 26, Barzal recorded his first multi-point game with a goal and an assist against the Minnesota Wild.
The breakout arrived on November 5, 2017, when Barzal set a franchise record for assists by a rookie with five helpers in a 6-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche, a mark that also tied the franchise record for points in a game by a rookie. He then recorded his first multi-goal game and hat trick on December 23 against the Winnipeg Jets in a 5-2 victory. On January 13, 2018, in a 7-2 win over the Rangers, Barzal became the fifth player in NHL history to record two five-point games in a season before his 21st birthday. By February 9, he had become the first NHL rookie to record three five-point games in a season since Joe Malone in 1917-18. On April 7, Barzal tied Bryan Trottier’s Islanders record for most assists by a rookie with 63. He was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy on April 22 and won the award on June 20, 2018.
Islanders Era Continued (2018-2020)
Following the departure of John Tavares during the 2018 off-season, Barzal began the 2018-19 season centering the Islanders’ top line alongside Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey. He responded with a strong campaign, finishing with 62 points, including 18 goals and 44 assists, to lead the Islanders in both points and assists. On December 29, 2018, he scored a natural hat trick in a 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, becoming the first Islanders player to score a hat trick against Toronto since Mike Bossy on March 20, 1986. Barzal was also named to the 2019 NHL All-Star Game and won the fastest skater competition at the 2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition.
In the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, Barzal scored his first playoff overtime winner against the Washington Capitals in Game 3, helping the Islanders take a 3-0 series lead. New York ultimately defeated Washington 4-1 and beat the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Long-Term Contract Era (2021-Present)
On January 11, 2021, Barzal signed a reported three-year, $21 million contract extension with the Islanders. Less than two years later, on October 4, 2022, he committed his long-term future to the franchise by signing an eight-year, $73.2 million contract extension that runs through the 2029-30 season. On January 1, 2023, in his 400th NHL regular season game, Barzal scored his 100th career goal in a 4-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken, a milestone that underscored his consistency as a top-six forward.
Driving Style and Strengths
Barzal is widely recognized for his elite skating, creative playmaking, and ability to control the pace of a game at even strength. His vision and patience with the puck allow him to thread passes through tight seams, while his speed enables him to create separation from defenders in transition.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his Calder Trophy-winning rookie season, Barzal’s three five-point games in 2017-18 made him the first NHL rookie to achieve that feat since Joe Malone in 1917-18. He also tied Bryan Trottier’s Islanders rookie assist record and earned WHL Playoff MVP honors in 2017. His selection to the 2019 NHL All-Star Game and his fastest skater title at the 2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition further highlighted his athletic profile.
Mathew Barzal Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Barzal’s immediate family are limited, and information about his parents and siblings is not widely documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Barzal speaks French fluently thanks to his enrollment in French immersion during his school years in British Columbia. That bilingual ability helped him build a close friendship with former Islanders teammate Anthony Beauvillier, a fellow French speaker whom Barzal first met while representing Canada at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championship.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2024-25 NHL season, Barzal remained a central figure in the Islanders’ offensive structure, skating in a top-six role and quarterbacking the power play. His long-term contract, signed in 2022 and running through 2029-30, underlined the organization’s continued commitment to him as a franchise cornerstone. As the season progressed, Barzal continued to log heavy minutes and produce offensively for New York.
Barzal’s blend of speed, playmaking, and special-teams responsibility kept him among the team’s most relied-upon forwards. His experience from the 2020 playoff run and subsequent deep postseason appearances positioned him as a leader in the Islanders’ dressing room.
With the Islanders looking to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, Barzal’s production and two-way reliability were central to the team’s outlook heading into the final stretch of the 2024-25 campaign.