NY Islanders GM search clouded by Lou Lamoriello’s unclear role in organization

Monday was another day when the New York Islanders’ GM search focused on Lou Lamoriello, which, however this ends up, is somewhat crazy. If you thought there was any chance that the Hall of Fame hockey executive would be around the team in some official capacity after the team’s carefully worded statement on April 22nd, you’re either lying or at least fibbing. If neither, you have better intuition than the vast majority of us.

What his role could be and the influence it holds remain unknown.

Reports last week from Arthur Staple of The Athletic stated there was a possibility that Lamoriello would stay on as an advisor to the GM. That reporting was updated and amended on Monday, as an Islanders source shared that while there was “no plan” for Lou to advise the GM, the belief is that he would be kept on as an advisor to ownership.

Who’s more influential? An advisor to the GM or an advisor to ownership?

Nobody knows precisely what that means, and because the Islanders haven’t explicitly stated what Lamoriello’s remit would be, it’s understandable if it is perceived to be impacting the GM search, with candidates leary of what it will mean to have the team’s former GM, an all-time legendary figure, having the ear of ownership and being their eyes and ears on the ground of what’s happening on an off the ice.

Meanwhile, the Islanders are reportedly interviewing Marc Bergevin, Jarmo Kekalainen, and Mathieu Darche—three names that have been in the mix since the start. In other news, Ken Holland apparently wants to work again but prefers Los Angeles over Long Island and will take the Kings’ GM job. Holland was reportedly the Isles' preferred choice to serve as both President of Hockey Operations and GM, the position Lamoriello had held since 2018.

There’s still a chance, and maybe a good one, that everything turns out just fine, with one of the names above introduced as GM in the coming weeks, but the fact that we’re talking about Lamoriello and not new GM possibilities was avoidable.

Either this was ownership’s intention all along, and they should have said so, or this possibility is a new development, as the GM search has not gone according to the initial plan. What Lou's potential presence in the organization and relationship with ownership mean for the new GM and the organization is an unknown, and that's exactly the problem.