Islanders' Mathew Barzal selected as NHL All-Star

Mathew Barzal is now an NHL All-Star. The Islanders’ second-year center was named by the league to the Metropolitan Division roster on Wednesday for the Jan. 26 game in San Jose, California. Barzal was the only Islander selected.

Barzal, 21, the Calder Memorial Trophy winner as the league’s top rookie last season, has 10 goals and 26 assists for a team-leading 36 points. Barzal had a torrid December with eight goals and 15 assists. He had a natural hat trick last Saturday week against the Maple Leafs and former Islanders captain John Tavares, a five-time All-Star during his nine seasons on Long Island. Tavares was named to the Atlantic Division.

Barzal, much like Taveras, has resisted personal accolades. “In this locker room we’ve got some big-time competitors,’’ he said before the All-Star announcement. “Kind of being written off at this start of the year, we were kind of laughing about it. We knew we had a pretty good team in here and as of late we just buy into the system and really have come together as a team on and off the ice. So, winning helps that but it’s a real good core here, a good team, so that’s why we’re having success.’’

Barzal had a slow start to the season. It was noted by coach Barry Trotz, who said in November, “The second year is always tougher than the first year. First year for young players, they come in, everything in the league is great. They’re getting all this recognition. They play in these great cities and all this. Then the second year, it’s a little different.

“Now you move up the rung. Everybody knows who you are. You think you can do more, but actually you just have to be more efficient in what you’re doing, because you’re going to get a lot more attention.”