Accountability. It’s a word we all wanted to hear for so long when discussing this team in the past, but with coaches like Doug Weight and Jack Capuano, along with the poor leadership of former GM Garth Snow, it simply never happened. Mathew Barzal is an example of how this has changed.
Now that Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello have arrived, it’s finally happening, which may come with some tough treatment for Barzal.
In the Isles’ final game before the All-Star Break/Bye Week, Barzal was sat for the duration of the third period due to multiple turnovers and not playing the right way in the eyes of his coach.
When Trotz was asked about it, he said that he was more focused on the individual aspect of the game rather than playing a team game. Yesterday at NHL All-Star Media Day, Barzal was asked about the benching for the first time.
“I was in the wrong” Barzal said. “Barry’s got my best interests and the team’s best interests. He wants to win as bad as anyone and so do I. It’s over with now. We got the win and that’s really all that matters.”

Barzal showed maturity when discussing an issue that he hasn’t really had to deal with yet in his young career. Both he and Trotz obviously want to win more than anything, but when his play gets in the way,
Trotz has every right to keep him on the bench and hold him ACCOUNTABLE. It is only going to make Barzal a better player for the rest of his career.