Islanders sign Barzal to 3- year deal

MathewBarzal couldn’twait to practice again. Yes, practice.

He left home to get toNew York despite nothaving a contract so he’dbereadyfor the start of the season, then watched as Islanders team mates enjoyed the first few days of training camp without him.

“I love the game, and I was anxious,” he said. “Iwanted to get out with the boys.”

Barzal finally got that opportunity Saturday after agreeing to a three-year ,$21 million contract. It ended some anxious times for Islanders fans just days before the season opener against the rival Rangers, even though Barza land team brass weren’ t worried about the NHL’smost prominent unsigned restricted free agent.

The 23- year- old star forward said there was “never any frustration” about negotiations. GM Lou Lamoriello voiced confidence a deal would get done in time. It’s short enough that Barzal will still be a year away from unrestricted free agency when it expires but long enough to cover some of his prime years.

“This is nothing that my agent or Lou or really the league has had to deal with,” Barzal said. “It’s unfortunate times, but at theendof theday, I thinkboth sidescameto a deal thatwewere happy on and it’s what fits right now. Now we just turn the page and next three years try to win a Stanley Cup.”

Barzal led the Islanders with 60 points on 19 goals and 41 assists in 68 games last season. The 2015 first- round pick had 17 points in 22 playoff games during their run to the Eastern Conference final and has becomethe Islanders’ best offensiveplayer.

“He’s the cornerstone of our team here a little bit,” captain Anders Lee said. “He’s oneof those guys that can really change the game on a dime.”

The Devils announced Sunday that they re- signed restricted free agent F Jesper Bratt to a two- year, $ 5.5 million contract. Bratt, 22, led the Devils in even- strength goals with 15 and set career highs with 16 goals and 101 shots last season. ... The Red Wings claimed D Christian Djoos off waivers from the Ducks. Djoos, 26, played 11 games for Ducks and Capitals last season, finishing with a goal and two assists.

Soccer: Matthew Hoppe became the first Americanto recordahat trick in theBundesliga, leading Schalke to a 4- 0 victory over Hoffenheim on Saturday. The 19- year- old forward accomplished the feat in only his fifth match in Germany’s top- tier league. It was Schalke’s first Bundesliga victory in nearly a year. Another draw or defeat would have matched the league record of 31 consecutive win less games set more than 50 years ago.

Tennis: Australian Open champ Sofia Ken in came back frommatch point down to beat Yulia Putin ts eva and reach the quarterfinals of the Abu Dhabi Open. The top- seeded Kenin posted 57 unforced errors to Putintseva’s 43 but still prevailed 3- 6, 7- 6 ( 5), 6- 4 over the 13th- seeded Putintseva. Kenin dropped the opening set for the second consecutive match in Abu Dhabi. Putintseva had match point when serving at 6- 5 up in the second set, but Kenin saved the point and broke Putintseva’s serve to take the set to a tie break. Next up is a quarterfinal match with ninth-seeded Mari aS ak kari, who beat former French Open and Wimbledon champ GarbineMuguruza 7-5,6-4.