In shocking news the New York Islanders have “moved on” from Lou Lamoriello the team announced on Tuesday.
https://x.com/NYIslanders/status/1914746682165649448
This means that the next General Manager will have their work cut out for them. It seems that there will be a complete overhaul over the organization, not just the roster. Is this needed? Yes, it was needed long ago.
The islanders missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in the squad’s first season at UBS Arena. Lou Lamoriello decided to not sell at that trade deadline but instead sign guys like Zach Parise and Cal Clutterbuck to extensions.
This was the time that I believed Lamoriello should’ve been relieved of his duties, but the organization felt differently. Despite my thoughts the team has now moved on from Lamoriello and is going into a new direction.
With that new direction comes change, something that the blue and orange faithful haven’t been used to in a long time.
Let’s look at some guys who could be moved or not brought back now that the Islanders are going in a youthful direction.
Anders Lee and JG Pageau
I’m grouping these two together because I believe both will be gone either at the draft or at next season’s trade deadline. It’s known that teams inquired about them at this year’s trade deadline so why wouldn’t teams inquire about them at the draft.
Pageau is easier to move than Lee. The center has been in trade rumors for over two seasons. The reason that Lamoriello didn’t move pieces was because he didn’t want to get back just “draft picks and prospects” he wanted players that could help right now.
Well Islanders fans that philosophy has changed. The team will be acquiring draft picks and prospects to build for the future. It has to be done. Also trading Pageau clears cap space.
Lee is harder to trade and if he’s not moved that’s understandable. You can only trade so many guys in one offseason. He’s the captain and a new GM might not want to trade the captain immediately.
Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock
These are two guys that have value and their play has declined so it could be time to move on. They have long term deals and could be useful for playoff teams or other teams that want to win now.
A new GM and a fresh start for the franchise could be a reason to get them off the team. Another reason could be younger guys pushing for roster spots like Isaiah George and Adam Boqvist.
Patrick Roy was a big fan of both last season and both could be on the team to start the season. There was a few players who he wasn’t very fond of though.
Pierre Engvall, Scott Mayfield, and Anthony Duclair
These three would be the players I’d refer to as Lou Lamoriello makes me play them and is keeping them on the roster. That doesn’t go for Duclair as he was Roy’s choice but that backfired big time.
Engvall worked hard, and personally I wouldn’t move on from him but Roy wasn’t a fan of his game for most of the season. Mayfield has drawn interest from other teams and if there are any that will take him they should move on from him.
With a new GM on the way there will be some movement this offseason that should’ve happened a long time ago.
