Mat Barzal took a step toward coming back on Thursday, skating on his own for the first time since reaggravating a left kneecap injury.
While his timeline for a return to play is still unclear, the Islanders have been optimistic that once he starts skating, it won’t take long.
Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said last week that Barzal would likely only need a few practices with the team once he was back on the ice, which could in theory slate him for a return as soon as next week.
That said, it’s not clear how long Barzal will need to skate on his own, and his knee needs to cooperate.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
