New York Islanders Lou Lamoriello GM Momentum Train Off

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 24: Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello speaks to the media after the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 24: Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello speaks to the media after the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The links between the New York Islanders and former New Jersey Devils/Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello won’t go away. If anything they’re picking up steam.

I didn’t think it could happen. The New York Islanders appoint a Hall of Fame builder to be their next GM? It seemed too good to be true. And it still seems too good to be true. But the chatter around the move is picking up a lot of steam over the last few days.

We already know about the links between Lou Lamoriello and his son Chris who is currently the Islanders assistant GM. How Lou Lamoriello and Garth Snow are “rather friendly” with one another. And how he’s a New York guy, as in he’s lived in New York most of his life.

But there wasn’t a fiber in my body that thought this could ever happen. And to be fair, it hasn’t yet. But it seems that every day the words coming from NHL insiders are getting closer and closer . And my staunch negativity surrounding Lou to Isles is turning into unhealthy hope.

I Want It, But I Don’t Want To Be Crushed

There hasn’t been a confirmation yet, but the notes coming out from insiders like Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger are that the Islanders and Lou Lamoriello are getting close. Whether that materializes or not is another issue altogether, but the important piece here is how the speculation has shifted from why it could make sense, to it seems to make sense.

I want Lou Lamoriello to be the Islanders next GM. I want to believe that ownership hasn’t totally abandoned us to the Garth Snow show and that they’d be willing to move him from his position. I want that to happen. But I didn’t think they would, because…why would I?

That’s how I thought before any of this increased activity surrounding the Isles GM position came about. What would make any of us believe that the owners were going to do anything?

I don’t imagine if the Islanders can land Lou Lamoriello that it spells the end for Garth Snow with this franchise. It likely pushes him up to President of Hockey Operations with a reduced hand in day-to-day operations.

Which isn’t the greatest end result, but it’s a good start. Ideally, Garth shouldn’t be around this team he’s been at the head of for twelve years, but if he hasn’t been fired yet, he isn’t likely to any time soon.

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Next: Pros and Cons of Trading Up At 2018 Draft

All that matters right now is that the sense I’m getting from the Lou to Islanders links is that it has become less of just a nice story, and more of a reality. And that has to be a good thing.

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