What the Islanders Do Next All Falls on Lou Lamoriello

It has been over two months and the dust has finally settled on the New York Islanders relieving Barry Trotz of his head coaching duties and replacing him with Lane Lambert. Whatever side of the coin you were on in regards to the decision to replace Trotz or not, the deed has been done. Now that the coach is replaced with a new but similar voice, the bullseye or the target has to be shifted to general manager Lou Lamoriello.

It was Lamoriello’s decision to make the change following the Islanders season coming to an end. It was the first time the team had missed the playoffs since Trotz was at the helm. But Lamoriello felt his team needed to move in a different direction. And he is no stranger to that just look at his time with the New Jersey Devils. He replaced coaches with little or no time left in the season. Sometimes it worked and other times it did not. One thing is clear whatever the Islanders do next all falls on the shoulders of Lou Lamoriello.

It Is All On Lou Lamoriello Now

Outside of the move to acquire Alexander Romanov from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Islanders’ offseason has been quiet. Despite reports of the Islanders being in on Johnny Gaudreau, he was never going to the Islanders. Lamoriello has a price point and he does not like to go over it.

Lamoriello believes in his team as he said at his year-end press conference. While the Islanders did play better in the second half of the season, there are still holes that need to be filled by Lamoriello. One of which is getting a goal scorer. The Islanders have issues scoring goals. Even during their run to back-to-back NHL semifinals, the Islanders’ biggest issue was goal scoring.

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But signing aging veteran players because you think the team is on the cusp is not the best idea. It was a similar mistake Lamoriello made while he was still the general manager in New Jersey after their fluke run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. He thought his team could get back there when in fact it was time for the rebuild in New Jersey. A similar situation is playing out with the Islanders.

While it could have been an off year on the Island, Islanders need to get younger, not older. The contract he gave Kyle Palmieri is less than an ideal contract for his production in the playoffs. Palmieri still has three more seasons remaining at $5 million a season. His regular season numbers are not the best. He has diminishing returns, but he is not the answer to play with Mathew Barzal. Barzal is also in need of a new contract after this season. But he needs to produce for Lamoriello to give him a pay raise and an extension.

Surviving the Salary Cap World

But the issue for Lamoriello is he has not been able to survive in a salary cap world. As noted above, he overpays for aging veterans which hurts the team salary cap. And the Islanders are still in salary cap purgatory. During his tenure with the Islanders, outside of hiring and then firing Barry Trotz, Lamoriello really has not added to the roster. The Islanders roster is mostly the same team as constructed by former general manager Garth Snow.

As a matter of fact, he has not replaced the players he got rid of via trade or free agency. Recall, Devon Toews, who won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche, was a draft pick of the Islanders. Lamoriello traded him away for two second-round picks. Then he did not re-sign Nick Leddy. With Noah Dobson filling the role of Leddy and Toews, Dobson has earned himself a new deal. Lamoriello hopes the addition of Romanov will be able to fulfill the need for a puck-moving defenceman. But Lamoriello’s negotiating tactics have hurt this team.

What worked pre-2004 lockout does not work in a time when salaries are increasing. He is not afraid to play hardball, but the fallout from the first day of free agency has Islanders fans not giving him a pass anymore, especially if he does not upgrade this team and just runs back the same club.

Lamoriello left one team in shambles after winning three Stanley Cup Championships, but the Devils have not been the same since he left. The Devils are still picking up the pieces. They have made the playoffs once since 2012. And have picked three times in the top two in the NHL draft. The Islanders are heading down a familiar path. It took some time for the Islanders to get back to being a relevant team in the NHL. Lamoriello could erase all that because he thinks the team is a Stanley Cup contender. When in fact, he should be overhauling the team to get younger so, they have sustained success.

Now Lamoriello has every right to make these decisions, but entering the final year of his contract with the Islanders, one thing is clear he cannot live on his reputation anymore. He is on the hot seat whether he likes it or not. He was in a similar position in 2013 with the Devils and saved his job. Does he have another rabbit up his sleeve to do it again? Only time will tell.

For a team that is about winning. Having another disappointing season in a new building will only add insult to injury in regards to the fact that Barry Trotz got fired. All eyes are on Lou Lamoriello and what he does because it is his team now.

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