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New York Islanders Lou Lamoriello Recent Free Agent History

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)
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) /
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UNIONDALE, NY – MARCH 10: Matt Martin #17 of the New York Islanders looks on after losing to the New York Rangers 2-1 during a game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on March 10, 2015 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images) /

Toronto Maple Leafs (2016)

The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs by a healthy margin in 2015-16. But that’s OK, it was part of the plan. They were just tearing things down and trying to maximize their draft position. Which they did by securing Auston Mathews as the number one overall pick in 2016.

Along with Mathews, the Leafs had youngsters Mitch Marner and William Nylander that would be brought into the fold. Lou figured he could use a tough forward that could help shelter his youth from the-dark-arts of the NHL. So he picked up the best option int he open market…

Who Lou brought in: Matt Martin

The New York Islanders let an integral part of their fourth line walk in free agency. Matt Martin and his 19 points and 119 penalty minutes were deemed surplus to requirements on the Island. There just wasn’t enough money to pay all three of the Islanders fourth lines.

After Garth Snow gave Casey Cizikas a five year $16.75 million deal, and Cal Cluttebuck and equally long $17.5 million deal, there just wasn’t any money left for Matt.

Lou gave Martin a $10 million four-year deal to play with the Leafs and ease the youngsters NHL career. And for the first year, it seemed to have worked. Marner and Martin immediately bonded.

via GIPHY

In the short-term it worked. But when Toronto’s game became less physical and more “let the offence roll” there was no room for Martin. After putting up nine points in 82 games in year one with the Leafs, Martin played only 50 games in year two.

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