At least until prospect Calum Ritchie is ready to make the leap to the NHL, the Islanders’ lineup vision hinges largely on shifting Mat Barzal back to center, where, if all goes according to plan, he will play regularly this season for the first time since the club traded for Bo Horvat at the 2023 All-Star break.

After Barzal invested time and energy into learning how to play on Horvat’s wing, going back to the middle — combined with knocking off the rust after a kneecap injury ended his season in February, later requiring surgery — is expected to be a process.

“I think it’s going to take a bit of time, but that’s what we have. We have time,” coach Patrick Roy said Friday. “We’ll see how it goes and right now, I think it’s going to be some adjustments he’s going to have to make.”

Barzal

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