Noah Dobson trade rumors provide taste of NY Islanders news cycle after Lamoriello

There are new ways of working for the New York Islanders and those covering the team, meaning that Lou Lamoriello's "code of silence" philosophy won't be enforced, at least not as rigidly as it was over the last six years, when the fans and media mostly lived in an information blackout.

That's how Lamoriello did business throughout his career, so it was no surprise when there were no longer regular injury updates, trade leaks, coaching search rumors, and certainly no insight into why half the team disappeared mid-season with "upper-body" issues. It's not that we didn't get updates, but you always had to wait for the 'official' team communication or Lamoriello himself.

Remember when extensions for Sorokin, Cizikas, Beauvillier, and Palmieri were all announced the same day? But with Lou no longer calling the shots, the way Islanders news is reported might finally be about to change. New GM Mathieu Darche comes from Tampa, where transparency wasn’t exactly wide open — but it wasn’t the cone of silence either. If he brings even a fraction more openness, we might start hearing real updates again: actual timelines for injuries, confirmation on trade talks, or even… dare I say it… open development plans for prospects.

Rumors that the Islanders are "quietly testing the market" on RFA Noah Dobson have surfaced in recent days, and picked up momentum when NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman shared an update. “I think the Islanders have a bit of a decision to make here," said Friedman. "I’ve heard quietly they’re testing the market here. I think they just want to know. I know there’s been a lot of Romanov rumors, but I’ve had a few people tell me Dobson is the guy to keep an eye on.”

Now, it's not that Friedman never speculated that the Islanders were looking to make moves before, we just knew that his sources weren't coming from those around the organization. Now, we're not so sure, and that's the big difference. Not only would Lamoriello or his staff share information with the media, especially information about contract negotiations, it was understood by GMs around the league that if Lamoriello was speaking to you, it meant you kept it under wraps.

Whether either approach makes a difference is anyone's guess. It may vary from situation to situation. Sometimes using the media properly can support a team's case with a player and the fanbase in negotiations. Other times, it could damage a relationship between a player and front office. In this situation, the Islanders are rightfully doing their due dillegence around a player that is reportedly looking for a 10-figure AAV and iscoming off a season where his production dropped 31 points. Meanwhile the Islanders may be adding a future cornerstone player at the same position and have a crowded blueline of veterans already locked into multi-year contracts.

Lou built a foundation and a culture around an organization that desperately needed it. But a little sunlight is long overdue for a fanbase hungry for clarity and openness. So buckle up. The Isles' news cycle might be interesting again. Let’s see what Darche does (or doesn't) and how much we "knew" was likely to happen before it did.