Mathew Barzal took a step toward returning from injury Thursday morning, skating for the first time since aggravating his surgically repaired left kneecap before the Islanders’ 4-1 win over Chicago. 

After missing all of training camp and the first week of the season, it’s not clear how long of a ramp-up Barzal will need before both he and the Islanders feel comfortable with him playing games, but the team has been optimistic that the next steps will be fairly straightforward. 

Those will be practicing with the team and then exposing Barzal to contact. Exactly how much skating on his own needs to happen before he can join the team has been left unsaid, and presumably it will depend on how his knee feels. 

Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) and Florida Panthers left wing Tomas Nosek (92) chase down the puck during the third period of a game at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., Saturday, March 28, 2026. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post

“Mat Barzal’s not a guy that needs three weeks to get ready,” general manager Mathieu Darche said last week. “When I played, with my poor skating, I needed more time. A guy like Barzal, you give him a few practices, and he’s good to go.” 

Barzal’s knee will likely continue to require monitoring even once he returns to the lineup. He described last year needing to manage it continually before aggravating it ahead of World Championships in May, causing him to pull out of the competition. He returned to the ice over the summer, but inflammation popped up again in the run-up to training camp. 

The Islanders have badly missed Barzal’s dynamism over the first few games of the season, lacking the creative spark he brings to the lineup. 

Coach Pete DeBoer will also face an interesting lineup choice when Barzal returns, as Cal Ritchie has fit in well so far as the second-line center — the spot Barzal was expected to play. Perhaps that gives room for Barzal to play on Bo Horvat’s wing, particularly given that Horvat’s line with Emil Heineman and Kyle Palmieri has yet to gain much traction. 

“I think we can be better, especially five-on-five,” Horvat said before the match Thursday against Chicago. “I think we can generate a little more offense and spend more time in the offensive zone. We’re not spending time in our own zone. We’re kinda skating up and down the sheet… For us to have success, we gotta work these guys down low and work more in the offensive zone..” 

Needless to say that wherever Barzal is in the lineup, the return of one of their best offensive scorers would be a major boost for the Islanders. 

“Obviously he’s a key player to have him up front and help us all around,” Matthew Schaefer said. “Obviously he’s been battling something, so for him to get feeling better, get close to feeling 100 [percent], it’s gonna be awesome. To see him skating, it’s awesome.” 

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Horvat was the victim of a late high hit from Frank Nazar, who drove his shoulder into the captain’s head after he shot the puck that ended in Chicago’s empty net with 1:33 to go in the game. 

DeBoer said afterward that Horvat was being evaluated, presumably for a concussion.