Islanders Lou Lamoriello’s Deadline Deals Thrive In Game 1

When you win three Stanley Cups, you deserve to get cocky. Sometimes, it feels like the Islanders General Manager, Lou Lamoriello does things almost to prove that he’s the smartest guy in the room. There’s been loads of criticism from the National guys on his moves.

For example, giving long-term deals to bottom-six forwards, giving up what he did for JG Pageau, trading Devon Toews, etc. You name it, it’s likely been criticized.

But, more often than not, Lou has had the last laugh. Yesterday was one of those days for Lamoriello as three of the four goals were from deadline acquisitions over the last two years.

We’ll start with Kyle Palmieri who had the big day in yesterday’s Game 1 win. First, he put the Islanders on the board early with a shot past Tristan Jarry. It was just his third goal as a member of the Islander as he went 17 regular-season games with just two goals.

Before the playoffs started, Barry Trotz was talking up Kyle Palmieri saying he liked his game and that the scoring would eventually come. Well, it did in a big way. His second goal of the game was a game-winner in OT.

This. This is the reason why Lou Lamoriello traded for Kyle Palmieri for a playoff run. The 17 regular-season games could be thrown out the window from his performance in Game 1 alone.

It didn’t stop there. JG Pageau, who Lou Lamoriello traded for and extended last year had a better game than Palmieri even. Playoff Pageau had a goal to his name and two assists as well on the afternoon.

All this guy does is score big goals for the Islanders in the playoffs. He has nine in just 23 games playoff games with the Isles, it doesn’t get much more clutch than that.

All the while, Lou Lamoriello can just sit back in his chair and laugh. While he gets criticized time after time for every little thing, his team keeps on winning.

Maybe there’s something to those morning berries and the shaving routine for Lamoriello. Whatever he’s doing it just continues to work.