New York Islanders unsigned restricted free agent Mathew Barzal was not present on the first day of training camp, head coach Barry Trotz told The Athletic's Arthur Staple.
The Isles currently have just $3.9 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly, but the club can create an additional $6 million in flexibility once Johnny Boychuk is placed on long-term injured reserve. The veteran blue-liner recently ended his playing career due to an eye injury.
Trotz is preparing to begin the season without his No. 1 center.
"You have to make sure you're adaptable," he said. "We're going to worry about who we can put on the ice."
Trotz did say Barzal is currently on Long Island. If the two sides can come to an agreement, he should be able to join the team almost immediately.
Islanders captain Anders Lee is confident Barzal will sign soon, according to NHL.com's Brian Compton.
Barzal is the heartbeat of the Islanders' attack. New York finished with the league's 23rd-ranked offense last season, but Barzal racked up a team-leading 60 points in 68 games.
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