Barzal joined former Islanders Hall of Famers Denis Potvin (1974), Bryan Trottier (1976) and Mike Bossy (1978) as well as former New York defenseman Bryan Berard (1997) on the exclusive list.

“The players that have won this award, within the Islanders organization and then others around the league, includes Hall of Fame players and Stanley Cup Champions,” Barzal noted.

“To have my name next to those guys in the record books is very humbling.”      

Barzal humbled plenty of defenders throughout his historic rookie campaign, racking up team highs in points (85) and assists (63) while playing the full 82-game slate after an ever-so-brief two-game NHL debut to start the 2016-17 season.

The native of Coquitlam, British Columbia, was the biggest bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the Islanders, who missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

He put together nine games with at least three points, including three five-point performances, while setting a team record with five assists in a game on Nov. 5 against Colorado.

Barzal, who recorded his first NHL hat trick on Dec. 23 against Winnipeg, became the front-runner for the award in January, when he was tabbed the league’s Rookie of the Month.

After that, the then-20-year-old forward never slowed down, providing former head coach Doug Weight with a dynamic presence nearly every time he stepped over the boards and hit the ice.

“It’s incredible, obviously we have some storied players at the Islanders and for me to even be in the same breath as Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, I couldn’t even ask for anything else,” the beaming rookie noted.

Barzal scored a convincing win against his fellow finalists as he received 160 of a possible 164 first-place votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

But the words of former Islander Calder recipients had to be just as satisfying to hear for the team’s top returning player behind team captain and two-time Hart Trophy finalist John Tavares, who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.

“I saw more highlights of Mat than I did actual games, which is a compliment,” said Bossy, the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s the top rookie in the NHL this year.” 

“He seems to be someone who enjoys the game very much and of the new generation that seems to be extremely confident in his abilities. Not much different than how I was confident in my abilities when I started in the league.”

Barzal’s confidence could have easily been shaken after he his early demotion in October of 2016. But the team’s first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft spent the rest of that season in the minors, driving the Seattle Thunderbirds to the WHL title by amassing 54 points and earning postseason MVP honors.

“Winning rookie of the year or just being nominated is something special,” Berard said of receiving his Calder Trophy more than two decades ago.

“Just don’t let it go to your head and keep doing what you’re doing. It’s gotten him this far, so just keep having fun with it and keep your confidence high,” he added.

There’s no doubting that Barzal is already looking ahead to bigger and better things entering his second full season with the Isles.

“That’s where the bar is set now,” he said.

“This is a fun three days, but there’s a lot of work. It’s the Calder Trophy, it’s not the Ted Lindsay or the Hart. Those are the big boy awards. Hopefully one day I can be back.”

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