Lou Lamoriello Must Be the True Mastermind Behind the New York Islanders Success This Upcoming Season

Lou Lamoriello is one of the savviest and most experience executives in the NHL. His instincts catapulted the Isles to a significant turnaround last season. That is why Lamoriello must continue to be the master mind behind the Isles' success this upcoming season as the club looks to make strides on last season's positive outcomes.

Lou Lamoriello must be the master architect that builds the New York Islanders' foundations for success.
Lou Lamoriello must be the master architect that builds the New York Islanders' foundations for success. / Bruce Bennett/GettyImages
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There is no question that New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello is one of the savviest executives in NHL history. His tenure with the New Jersey Devils led to a tremendous turnaround culminating in numerous Stanley Cup championships.

Following his departure from New Jersey, Lamoriello’s short-lived stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs sparked one of the most ambitious rebuilds in league history.

However, his unceremonious exit from Toronto was a gain for the New York Islanders. Lou Lamoriello’s arrival ushered in a new era of old-school hockey that led the Isles to back-to-back Conference Finals appearances.

Since then, the Isles have been unable to replicate that sort of success. Part of it is due to the restrictions of the salary cap era. Others are due to mistakes in player management and questionable decisions. So, let’s take a look at the plus and minus sides of Lou Lamoriello as the New York Islanders GM.

The Plus and Minus Sides of Lou Lamoriello as New York Islanders GM

PLUS

Lamoriello has one of the most impressive track records in league history. He’s won Cups, turned teams around, drafted, and developed Hall of Famers. There’s very little he’s been able to accomplish throughout his extensive career.

But in Long Island, ultimate success has been elusive. Lamoriello has been unable to lead the Isles over the proverbial playoff hump and win a championship.

It’s worth pointing out that the lack of a Cup doesn’t mean Lamoriello’s tenure has been a bust. It’s a signal that winning championships in professional sports is often a matter of patience. Nevertheless, his influence on the team has been evident.

Lamoriello joined the Islanders in May 2018. His arrival followed a disappointing 6th place finish in the Metro Division and the second year in a row the team missed the playoffs. The next season, the Isles quickly turned things around, finishing second in the division. That postseason, the Isles fell in the second round, capping a successful turnaround season.

The following two seasons saw the Isles fall to the eventual champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final. Those successful runs were marked by the old-school style that Lamoriello and former head coach Barry Trotz espoused.

The club had built a team focused on a strong defensive core, solid goaltending, and timely offense. The Isles didn’t outscore anybody, but they certainly outworked opponents. Most importantly, Lamoriello was able to weather the storm that ensued following John Tavares’ departure.

But Tavares’ escape from The Island offered the team an opportunity to rally. It also allowed the emergence of players like Mathew Barzal to step up, while paving the way for Ilya Sorokin to become a true number-one netminder.

Fast forward to 2024, and the Isles are clearly a reflection of Lamoriello’s commitment to strong, fundamentally sound hockey. While critics may question the lack of star power on the team, they often overlook the fact that the New York Islanders are built to navigate the toughest waters in the NHL.

MINUS

Criticism of Lou Lamoriello boils down to two major areas.

First, critics point out the Isles’ roster construction. In particular, critics point out that the Islanders are one of the oldest teams in the league. These critics underscore that core players like Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Kyle Palmieri, and Casey Cizikas are well past thirty.

Critics also point out the questionable contracts given to players like Pierre Engvall, Scott Mayfield, Ryan Pulock, and Adam Pelech.

What most critics don’t see is the value in locking up good players at opportune times. All too often, we see teams try to cut corners or short-term deals with stars. Those types of deals, while cheaper in the short run, end up costing teams far more once players hit free agency.

In particular, critics point to the Engvall contract questioning why the team would sign a bottom-six forward to a six-year deal.

The fact of the matter is that GMs must follow their instincts. Players don’t often deliver on contracts straight away. Sometimes, players take some time before truly finding their footing. That’s the bet that Lamoriello has made on players like Engvall.

Second, critics point out Lamoriello’s lack of flashy moves. I will avoid delving too deeply into this point by highlighting what rival GM Kyle Dubas did in Pittsburgh. Dubas wanted to make a splash during his first offseason with the Penguins.

So, he engineered the deal that brought Erik Karlsson to Steel City. While Karlsson hasn’t played badly, the deal isn’t looking very well at this point.

This example highlights how making deals for the sake of making big deals is not the most efficient way to do business. New York Islanders fans have come to expect under-the-radar moves that often go unnoticed.

But then again, operating under a veil of secrecy has always been Lamoriello’s modus operandi. As any savvy business manager knows, like effective military commanders, the less your opponents know about your moves, you greater your chances at success become.

The Verdict

There is no question about Lamoriello’s value to the New York Islanders. However, he’s getting up in age and could look to retire at some point in the near future.

As such, the team may consider looking into Lamoriello’s heir, someone who can usher in a new era for the team. If this current era is any indication, such a transition will be a fly-by-night operation. Nevertheless, the hope is that Lamoriello will eventually go out on top, with the Cup returning to The Island.

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