The New York Islanders are suddenly at the center of one of the more fascinating NHL trade rumors of the offseason, and the name involved is not a depth player or a pending free agent. It is Mathew Barzal, the kind of high-end offensive talent teams do not usually get a chance to ask about.
According to reporting cited by Stefen Rosner, the Islanders have received trade inquiries on Barzal as the trade and free-agent markets begin to dry up. Two teams believed to have interest are the Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars, and that makes this rumor worth watching closely.
Here is the important part: interest does not mean availability. The Islanders have reportedly told Montreal before that Barzal was not available, and that still matters. But when teams like the Canadiens and Stars start calling, Islanders GM Mathieu Darche has to at least listen. Not because Barzal should be pushed out, but because elite NHL forwards with term, speed, creativity and star power rarely come up in trade conversations.
Mathew Barzal Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 611 | 153 | 381 | 534 | 20 |
| Playoffs | 60 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 2 |
Why the New York Islanders Would Be Careful With a Mathew Barzal Trade
From an Islanders perspective, trading Barzal would be a franchise-altering decision. This is not a rental situation where the team is trying to salvage value before losing a player for nothing. Barzal carries a $9.15 million cap hit and is signed through the 2030-31 season, which means any acquiring team would be buying control, not just a short-term playoff push.
That is exactly why the price should be massive.
My read: the Islanders should not be looking for a picks-and-prospects-only package unless they are fully committing to a teardown. If New York still wants to stay competitive, the return has to include a legitimate NHL star or a young top-six forward who can help immediately. Barzal is too important to the Islanders’ identity. He drives entries, creates pace, opens space for linemates and gives the roster the type of offensive unpredictability that is hard to replace.
This is also where the rumor gets interesting. The Canadiens and Stars are not calling for the same reason.
Montreal Canadiens Fit: A Barzal-Demidov Second Line Would Be Dangerous
The Montreal Canadiens have been searching for another top-six forward, and Barzal would be a dream fit if the goal is to give Ivan Demidov a dynamic running mate on the second line. Barzal’s speed and playmaking would allow Demidov to attack with more space, and Montreal would suddenly have a much more dangerous two-line offensive structure.
A Canadiens lineup with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield leading one wave, then Barzal and Demidov creating on the next, would be a nightmare matchup if everything clicked.
The challenge is the trade cost. Montreal has young assets, picks and prospects, but the Islanders are unlikely to be motivated by futures alone. If the Habs are serious, the conversation likely has to include a premium young NHL player, a top prospect and draft capital. That is where Montreal must be careful. Acquiring Barzal would accelerate the rebuild, but overpaying could damage the long-term core they have been patiently building.
My trade-fit score for Montreal: 8.5/10 for roster fit, 6/10 for trade realism.
Dallas Stars Fit: Barzal as a Jason Robertson Replacement?
The Dallas Stars angle might be even more fascinating. If the Stars are looking at Barzal as a potential replacement for Jason Robertson, this rumor becomes less about adding another star and more about reshaping the top of the roster.
Barzal would give Dallas a different look. Robertson is a high-end scoring winger, while Barzal is more of a pace-driving playmaker who can attack through the middle or off the wing. For a Stars team built around a win-now window, Barzal’s contract certainty could be appealing if there are concerns about Robertson’s next deal or long-term fit.
The cap math is simple but significant: Barzal represents a five-season commitment of $45.75 million if acquired before the 2026-27 season. That is expensive, but it is also predictable. For a contender, cost certainty matters. If Dallas believes Robertson’s next contract could climb higher than Barzal’s $9.15 million AAV, the Stars may at least explore whether a star-for-star framework makes sense.
My trade-fit score for Dallas: 7.5/10 for roster fit, 7/10 for trade realism if Robertson is involved.
Would the Islanders Actually Trade Mathew Barzal?
Right now, I would still classify a Mathew Barzal trade as unlikely, but not impossible. The Islanders should not be afraid to listen, especially if the Canadiens or Stars are aggressive. But listening is not the same as shopping.
For Montreal, the appeal is obvious: Barzal could become the top-six forward who helps unlock Demidov and gives the Canadiens a more dangerous offensive identity. For Dallas, the fit depends heavily on what happens with Robertson and whether the Stars want to shift from a goal-scoring winger to a high-end playmaking forward with long-term contract control.
My personal observation: this is the exact type of rumor that can move quickly if one team makes the Islanders uncomfortable with a massive offer. But if the calls are built around futures, New York should walk away. Barzal is still one of the few Islanders forwards who can tilt the ice offensively. Unless the return helps the Islanders now and later, Darche has no reason to blink.
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