New York Islanders ready to turn the page, usher changes following Lamoriello departure

The New York Islanders are ready to turn the page following news of Lou Lamoriello’s imminent departure from the team’s GM position.

The change comes as a mild surprise considering something I read in The Athletic earlier today. Arthur Staple responded to a question regarding a succession plan for Lamoriello. He stated:

“It doesn’t take a deep insider to tell you that Malkin and the owners have talked about it plenty. You just aren’t putting it into action before Lamoriello is told what’s going to happen, and if he’s running the show for another year, no owner is going to undermine their GM that way.”

Staple’s comments highlight how Islanders’ ownership had this move in mind. They just weren’t at the point where they wanted to pull the trigger just yet. But following the Isles’ demise this season, my senses tell me enough was enough.

A change had to come.

And so, here we are. The Isles will be moving on from Lamoriello and a new era is set to begin. But I have to say that I liked Lamoriello. He’s an old-school guy like me. Then again, that’s where the problem lies.

Even if you’re old school, you need to change with the times. You must adapt and focus on what works and what doesn’t. Unfortunately for the New York Islanders, Lamoriello was stuck in his ways. He was too focused on what worked 20 years ago in New Jersey, that is, preferring veteran players to the detriment of developing young talent.

Times have changed and the Islanders took a major step forward to usher a new era in Long Island.

Could a rebuild be on the horizon for the New York Islanders?

The biggest question now seems, “Are the New York Islanders embarking on a rebuild?”

Honestly, I hope not.

Tearing everything down at this point would prove fruitless. The Islanders have a solid core that just needs the right combination of youth and supporting cast members. Oh, and a dose of star power wouldn’t hurt.

The fact is that the temptation may be there from Islanders management to embrace a rebuild. Lamoriello wasn’t going to do it. But a new GM could be hired specifically to engineer a rebuild. That might be the way forward.

However, I would caution team management to take a long, hard look at what rebuilds look like. The San Jose Sharks have been mired in a rebuild for over a decade. The Detroit Red Wings are on the same path. The Anaheim Ducks haven’t fared much better.

The Chicago Blackhawks, they went down that path after their three Stanley Cups, and well, don’t look anywhere near the playoffs.

So, there it is. The Islanders have come to a fork in the road. It’s either a full-blown rebuild, staring at a decade of lost hockey, or one last-ditch attempt to salvage the team’s core and focus on getting back to contention next season.

Whatever the path team ownership chooses, it will be an eventful summer.