Islanders and franchise forward aiming for contract extension before the start of the season

"There's still (three) weeks before the season, and we can (hopefully) hammer something out," Barzal said when asked about his extension. "If not, I'm not really worried about it just because my heart's here, and I know that we'll get something fair and something both sides will be happy about."

I would say it's deja vu for the Islanders as John Tavares said the same thing before he bolted back home to Toronto, but Barzal will be an RFA at season's end. At least it gives the Islanders a full season to try to get a long-term deal done next year if he were to only sign his qualifying offer at the end of this season. That's worst case scenario of course, as both sides are hoping to get the extension done sooner rather than later so that it doesn't become a distraction, even though Barzal said it wouldn't be.

"When it comes, it comes. I'm not really worried about it," he said. "I won't go home and pace around thinking about it all day. Just work my hardest and try to prove to them that, obviously, I want them to want me to be here for a while. I think Lou Lamoriello does. I would like to do it."

Barzal registered a career-low 15 goals in 73 games but still finished tied for the Islanders' scoring lead with 59 points. For reference, the Leafs had 6 players with more than 60 points, so you could say the Islanders may have struggled a bit to score.