Because I already see him declining. That is, being far less dominant, by himself, than he was say when he scored that overtime winner in the playoffs a couple of years back. When he's been playing against us, this year, for instance, can you remember a single time when he, by himself, was game breaking? Barzal was far more difficult for us to handle.
Yes he's scoring 80 + points. But on a team where Anders Lee is scoring 40 goals and how many other guys are putting up some huge point totals. All those goals scored by the team inflates his production by at least 30% over what could be expected here.
He's basically a grinder you know. He loves to get the puck on his stick, and when he does, he holds on to it and is impossibly difficult to handle. But his skating isn't his great asset, his doggedness, strength, balance, and hands are. His background as a Lacrosse player continues to condition what he does on the ice. He's the best Lacrosse-player-NHL forward in the league.
Okay it's open season now. On me. I don't appreciated being called "ridiculous." Why not make an argument based on the merits rather than on an adjective? I've attempted one above by replying seriously to the issues raised.