PITTSBURGH, PA — Mathew Barzal is a different player than he was when he won the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie in 2017-18.
Over his first few seasons in the league, Barzal was a player with all the talent, utilizing his elite edge work and shiftiness to confuse opponents. However, his style — the unpredictability of it — made it difficult to find compatible linemates.
Maturing was certainly part of it for Barzal, who, over the last seven years, has learned more about the game and the way he needs to play for the team to be effective — not just himself.