New York Islanders Simple to Trust New Management

New York Islanders management of Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz are making it easy to trust them because unlike the last regime they aren’t playing with our expectations.

In speaking to Newsday New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz had a number of things to say about the Islanders as well as his and Lou’s approach to the team. As training camp is about to start, we all want to know what to expect out of this team.

Trotz isn’t making bold declarations or statements that he’s going to have to walk back just a few weeks from now.

He’s preaching that players play their game, that they play to their strengths. Be accountable, responsible, and tough to play against. Sounds simple enough. But last season we were getting something different from the previous regime.

No Promises

Around this time last season previous head coach Doug Weight was telling media that he’d play youth over veterans if they outplayed said veterans. Remember that? Remember the expectations that that declaration built up for us?

I know I do. I wrote about it last September.

Of course, as we all know, Doug Weight didn’t stick to that statement. Jason Chimera regularly had a spot on the roster until he was traded at the deadline in February. Chimera famously offered nothing to the Islanders offense or defense.

Chimera wasn’t the only not producing. he’s just the easy one to point out.

Both Ryan Pulock and Josh Ho-Sang who were on the Islanders 23-man active roster to start the 2017-18 season didn’t get a start till October 21st (game seven) and October 7th (game two), respectively.

While Pulock would continue to play for the Islanders, Josh Ho-sang famously went down to the AHL after 22 games for reasons. It’s not like he wasn’t producing. He had 12 points in those 22 games and was largely responsible for Brock Nelson‘s early season form.

Yes, Ho-Sang had his flaw. But so did Jason Chimera who played 54 games with the Islanders before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Chris Wagner.

It’s easy to trust Lou and Barry. Not only because of the pedigree they brought to their positions before they arrived, but because of the measured and professional approach they’re taking now that they’re here.

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It’s reassuring after what was going on last year. It’s reassuring that the franchise is in stable hands. It doesn’t mean, we think they’ll deliver a championship immediately. But it’s structure. They aren’t building us on something they can’t necessarily deliver.