New York Islanders Lou Lamoriello Recent Free Agent History

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MONTREAL, QC – JUNE 26: Lou Lamoriello of the New Jersey Devils photographed during the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre on June 26, 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Free agency is only a few weeks away, and for the first time in a long time, the New York Islanders have a new General Manager. What is Lou Lamoriello like on July 1st when it comes to free agency?

If there’s one thing we’ll remember from Lou Lamoriello’s predecessor’s time as General Manager of the New York Islanders, its how he bungled the 2016 free agency window.

The frenzy of deals and money to spend from new owners most have frazzled Garth Snow. Cause he got the 2016 free agency window fantastically wrong.

Snow let Kyle Okposo go, and completely misjudge what Frans Nielsen wanted to do as he approached free agency. But perhaps worst of all is that Snow went all in on then 30-year-old Andrew Ladd. Signing him to a seven-year $38.5 million deal.

With Okposo gone the Islanders lost a 50-60 point player. With Nielsen’s departure, they lost a 50 point Selke worthy two-way center. And replaced it with Andrew Ladd.

Maybe he thought that Ryan Strome could step in or even Mathew Barzal could start his NHL career as Nielsen’s step in. Both couldn’t fill the vacancy. Leaving the Islanders without a proper second line center.

And as Andrew Ladd massively struggled, the Islanders missed out on secondary scoring. Leaving John Tavares to do all the heavy lifting. Again. Naturally, the Islanders missed the playoffs.

Now that the Islanders have a new GM for the first time in 12 years, what is he like when it comes to free agency? What can the last five Lou Lamoriello free agent windows tell us?