The CHL is honoring the top 50 players to pass through the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL for the league's 50th anniversary, recognizing some of the biggest names in hockey. Among those 50 players, six have affiliations with the NY Islanders, both as players and coaches.
Barzal is set to represent Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland from May 15 through May 31, marking his third appearance at the tournament and his first since 2022. While he was never viewed as a likely lock for Canada's loaded Olympic roster, the World Championship still gives him an opportunity to showcase his game in a best-on-best style environment and continue his strong history in international competition.