When Mathew Barzal made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders in October of 2016, fans expected to see the forward prosper. However, playing only two games in the major league, Barzal tallied no points and spent much of his time in the penalty box, bringing his PIM total to six minutes with a particularly odd inference call after touching the puck while still in the box.
While this less than ideal start did not bode well for the 19-year-old, it is not entirely reflective of his true skill. Barzal was then sent back to his minor league team, the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, later that October, where he served as their captain.