Mathew Barzal is one of the NHL’s most creative playmakers—a dynamic skater known more for dazzling setups than pure goal scoring. Despite his elite puck handling and vision, the New York Islanders All-Star has topped 20 goals in a season only twice in his career: 22 in his Calder Trophy-winning 2017–18 rookie season and a career-high 23 goals in 2023–24. Since then, he’s scored just 14 goals in 58 games in 2022–23 and 6 in 30 games during an injury-shortened 2024–25.
This gap between talent and goal totals has raised questions among fans about why Barzal doesn’t shoot more.