MathewBarzal

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Barzal's 2022-23 season was derailed by a lower-body issue which cost him nearly two months from mid-February to mid-April. He returned for the Islanders' six-game, first-round loss to Carolina in the playoffs, managing two goals and zero assists in that series. Barzal won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year back in 2017-18 after posting 22 goals and 85 points in 82 games. He's finished with no more than 19 goals and 62 points in the five years since. Now 26 years old, Barzal is locked into a top-line role for the Islanders, but they project as one of the NHL's lowest-scoring teams and had one of the worst power plays in the league last year. Barzal is a reasonable mid-to-late round pick in fantasy drafts, but don't overpay for production that is unlikely to materialize.