Barzal is on a whole other level!!

Id take Barzal

I say Barzal.

Barzal but it’s not a huge gap

barzal

Hard to not say Barzal by a mile right now. When Detroit gets better Larkin should close the gap a bit

I think both are really overrated, tough call.

Barzel clear cut.

Barzal and I don't even have to think twice about it

Barzal plays on a far talented Isles team, And sorry as a Wings fan no freaking way am i giving up that much for Matthew Barzal he alone is't making us contenders.

He said no trades. Is just for a comp

Barzal. End of story.

Mantha is fantastic. "except Matt plays with a much, much, better supporting cast." Mantha is better than Lee and Eberle. I'd say its very close but you could argue that Larkins supporting cast (line mates) are better. I'll give the edge to Barzel but its very close imo. Trotz system i think holds him back slightly from being the player he wants to be offensively but both are great talents.

Switch teams and does Larkin post better or worse numbers than Barzal? What does Barzal bring to the table that Larkin doesn’t?

Wings fan but it’s Barzal at least for now

Larkin

As a Detroit fan, Barzal, but It's challenging to compare them, as aside from both being very fast, their games aren't identical so it's not necessarily on a talent basis.

Yeah sorry forgot about that, Never mind what i said then.

That’s tough because of the state of Detroit it’s hard to fairly judge Larkin. Want to say barzal but just doesn’t seem like a fair comparable.

The system Trotz runs is a good point, and yes Mantha is a Stud and Bert is the perfect supporting character But that’s it. Det had little to no Def and they really only had the one line so opposing teams could completely focus on that line and Mantha missed half the season.

Don't forget there are are 6 guys on the ice at all times. Filip Hronek was probably the only defenceman on Detroit who makes the Isles top 6 reliably, and the supporting cast extends even beyond the 2 other forwards who most commonly share the ice with the respective players.

Outside of their elite skating they play completely different. Larkin is a 2 way guy that will get Selke nominations and Barzal is a playmaker that makes guys around him better. I’d say it’s closer than some posters will admit given Larkin isn’t sheltered and post great possession numbers on a historically bad team.

yeah Detroit is a trash can right now ( why the NHL is an embarrassment with the draft). It's impossible to know what would happen shoe on the other foot but you'd have to assume Larkin would do better with a better team a round him.

Solid point. i was more focusing on his linemates but overall the Islanders are the better/ deeper team

I figured most would say Barzal but being as close as it is, I also figured Larks would get a little bit of love. That being said, Barzal looked awesome in the playoffs!