New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal is not going to play on the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday evening for disciplinary causes, coach Patrick Roy introduced.
Roy mentioned Barzal was late to the rink in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday morning. He mentioned the middle will probably be again within the lineup for Friday evening’s recreation on the Washington Capitals.
“That is the tradition of our workforce. We made the choice to not play him tonight,” Roy mentioned. “Barzy would not be ok with it, however you respect the choice. He understands it. He was actually good about it.”
Barzal had been slotted to play with wingers Anthony Duclair and Kyle Palmieri. Rookie ahead Cal Ritchie, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche final season in a commerce for Brock Nelson, is anticipated to make his Islanders debut with Barzal out.
Roy advised Barzal that he had been disciplined for a similar situation whereas taking part in for the Avalanche throughout his Corridor of Fame NHL profession.
“It isn’t a giant deal right here. It occurs. We all know that,” Roy mentioned. “Nobody right here is mad at Barzy. It is simply the tradition we put in place. We’re a workforce. We stick collectively. Compassion is an important factor.”
Barzal, 28, is within the third season of an eight-year, $73.2 million contract extension he signed in 2022. He has two targets and 6 assists in 9 video games this season and 470 factors in 539 profession video games over 10 seasons with the Islanders, who drafted him sixteenth total in 2015.
The Islanders are off to a 4-4-1 begin underneath Roy, who’s in his third season as their coach.