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

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.

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.