General manager Joe Douglas said on Saturday, "I wasn't here but I heard how beneficial a guy like (veteran QB) Josh (McCown) was to Sam's development last year and I really think that that torch can be passed to Ryan this year as far as continuing that development." There’s a lot of things that the center takes off the quarterback." His knowledge speeds up the process (for Darnold). Video: Mathew Barzal comes in at No.Gase said Friday, "it’s a great thing that we can add to that group, a guy that’s played at a very high level for a long time. It’s going to be really helpful for the offense, for the quarterback, for our locker room, bringing in the right kind of guy for us. I think it's going to filled with other guys that are going to have to step up, myself included." It's not so much I think when you talk about leaving and minutes being filled, I don't think it's going to be filled with. "I think something that made our team so dynamic was we were tough to match up against. "Obviously, he had a great year last year," Eberle said of Barzal. Barzal led the Islanders with 85 points (22 goals, 63 assists) and won the Calder Trophy last season, mostly playing with Eberle as his linemate. Without Tavares, Mathew Barzal likely will be the Islanders' No. We've got enough guys to fill depth here, and guys are going to fill in and we'll be fine." Sometimes you play better without that added pressure. You look at a team like maybe New Jersey last year, who had similar expectations coming in, and look how well they did. "I think we're kind of put in a category right now where we're kind of the underdog role, and sometimes that's good to be. "It's obviously a loss for our team, but you've got to move on," he said. 1 pick of the 2009 NHL Draft, was Islanders captain for the past five seasons.Įven without Tavares, Eberle believes New York is in position to surprise. The Islanders lost center John Tavares during the offseason he signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1. I think there's going to be some competition in camp and that always makes your team better, and myself included. "I think with the changes that we've had, I think it's always fun to prove yourself. I know it's such a cliche, but it really means a lot now just based on how quick the League's gotten, so that's something I really focus on. In the summer everyone's focus should be to try to get faster. Even the last three years, I've noticed the speed of the League is a lot higher than it used to be. I think the game's really progressed in a way that it's a lot faster. "I think for me, I kind of just tried to focus on myself and try and get better. "Anytime you miss the playoffs, there's always going to be changes," Eberle said. Video: Will Mathew Barzal be able to lead the Islanders? Lamoriello named himself GM and hired Barry Trotz, who won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals last season, as coach June 21. Lou Lamoriello was named president of hockey operations May 22, and he fired Garth Snow as general manager and Doug Weight as coach June 5. But New York (35-37-10) missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season, resulting in changes in the front office and behind the bench. Once that happens, you start trying to fill a role and try to make this team as good as it can be."Įberle had 59 points (25 goals, 34 assists) in his first season with the Islanders after being acquired in a trade from the Oilers for forward Ryan Strome on June 22, 2017. "Going into the summer, I was trying to focus on me and being the best I can be, and come into the camp the best I can be. "To be honest, I haven't had any conversations with anybody," Eberle said after an informal skate at the Islanders practice facility Tuesday. He's been eligible to sign an extension since July 1. 30, 2012, and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season. The 28-year-old forward is entering the final season of a six-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Edmonton Oilers on Aug.
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