Could Islanders Mathew Barzal Be Traded to LA for Adrian Kempe? (e3)
Isles coach Patrik Roy recently scratched star center Mathew Barzal for being late to a team meeting, and of course other teams took notice and the rumors will start to fly..A good source of mine said he had heard Roy was a huge fan of LA’s Adrian Kempe and that some discussions have taken place…
So lets look at Barzal and Kempe and if this swap makes sense,..
• He plays centre (and sometimes wing), shoots right. He is 6’1” 190 lbs.
• 2017-18 was a breakout year: Barzal played 82 games, registered 22 goals and 63 assists for 85 points.
• He tied the Islanders’ rookie record for most assists (63) held by Bryan Trottier.
• He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in 2018, becoming the 5th player in Islanders history to do so.
• He signed a long-term extension: An 8-year contract beginning 2023-24 with an AAV of $9.15 million.
• He has faced significant injury issues. In the 2024-25 season he suffered a kneecap injury and earlier an upper-body injury.
Surprising Comparisons…
I will be the first to admit I have an east coast bias, but when comparing these two statistically I would have given a definite edge to Barzal. I love Kempe, but I have always seen Barzal, when healthy, as a bigger star. Lets see some comparisons…
Kempe is 29 and Barzal is 28…Kempe has played in 581 regular season games…Barzal? Only 14 less. 567… Barzal is a center who creates with his speed. Kempe is a winger who also can fly but who tends to like more physical activity than Mathew.
Check out these numbers…
As you can clearly see. these two players are extremely statistical comparable.
Way more comparable than I would have guessed…
As for No-Trade Clauses in their contracts….Barzal has a 22 no trade team list.. Kempe has 10.
Barzal is signed for 6 more years at just over 9M per. and Kempe will be a UFA but is looking for the same kind of salary..which LA has not been willing to pay… With Kopitar leaving, Barzal could be the perfect next top line center in LA…