5 moves by Lou Lamoriello and what they'll mean for the Islanders' next GM
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello speaks to the media prior to a game a at UBS Arena on Oct. 26, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Lou Lamoriello made countless decisions in his seven-season tenure as Islanders president/general manager, which led to five playoff appearances but ended on Tuesday when the team announced the Hall of Fame executive’s contract would not be renewed.
Whoever becomes the Islanders’ next boss — whether the titles are divided among two new hires or one person again assumes both roles — is expected to have a busy offseason to reverse the downward trend of the last three seasons as the roster aged and slowed without enough infusion of top-tier younger players.
Any of Lamoriello’s decisions over the seven seasons can be scrutinized for good and bad. Here’s a look at five that stand out, with the move’s immediate impact and the lingering effects that the next administration will have to address:
2025 NHL Trade Deadline non-moves
Immediate impact: Lamoriello once again showed unwavering faith in his core to make a playoff run. So while he did trade Brock Nelson to the Avalanche for, in part, a first-round pick in 2026 and well-regarded prospect Cal Ritchie — who could eventually replace Nelson as a top-six center — he only did so after the 33-year-old pending unrestricted free agent rejected the Islanders’ final contract extension offer. Meaning Lamoriello wanted to keep the whole core together. Lamoriello also chose not to trade pending UFA Kyle Palmieri, 34, with both sides sounding like a contract extension was nearly signed, if not already signed. Lamoriello also did not act on offers for Anders Lee, who turns 35 in July, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, 32. Both will be UFAs after this coming season. Instead, Lamoriello said he knew more changes needed to be forthcoming this offseason. The Islanders, did not answer Lamoriello’s faith as they finished nine points out of the final playoff spot.
Future impact: Lamoriello’s trade deadline inaction is actually a positive for whoever is hired. The new GM has a clean slate and, barring the unlikely event the Islanders choose to hire an in-house candidate, presumably no ties to any of the current players. The new GM can use whatever honeymoon period there is at the start to trade some fan favorites without fearing public blowback for any moves. Lamoriello set the mandate to make offseason moves. Whoever will be making them will have an easier time of it.
Too many long-term contracts
Immediate impact: Bo Horvat signed for eight seasons and $68 million. Mathew Barzal signed for eight years and $73.2 million. Goalie Ilya Sorokin is inked for eight seasons at $66 million. But those were no-brainer contracts. At the time, so was eight years at $49.2 million for defenseman Ryan Pulock (signed in 2021) and who had a no-trade clause through this coming season and eight for $46 million for defenseman Adam Pelech (2021), who has a no-trade clause for two more seasons. Injuries have taken their toll on both and they will be 31 at the start of next season. Meanwhile, nobody else around the NHL was offering defenseman Scott Mayfield seven years for $24.5 million through 2030 with a no-trade clause through 2027 or left wing Pierre Engvall seven years and $21 million through 2030. Both were frequent healthy scratches last season.
Future impact: The new GM needs to revamp the defense corps, presumably around Alexander Romanov and Noah Dobson, both restricted free agents with arbitration rights who will be seeking significant raises this offseason. Room for prospect Isaiah George will need to be made as well. But it will take a Herculean effort by the new GM — or, in real talk, the inclusion of decent draft capital — to move some of the existing contracts for a veteran defenseman. That could hinder the rebuilding efforts.
Firing Barry Trotz
Immediate impact: Head scratching was the general reaction when Lamoriello fired the Stanley Cup winning coach after the Islanders missed the playoffs in 2022. Lamoriello said the Islanders needed a “new voice” but the only candidate he considered was Lane Lambert, Trotz’s top lieutenant. No other reason has ever been revealed. One theory is that Trotz tired of Lamoriello’s interference.
Future impact: The Islanders still may be looking for the right replacement for Trotz. Lambert lasted just 127 games — with a five-game playoff ouster — before Lamoriello ditched him for Patrick Roy, who must now convince the next GM he deserves to stay. Roy has coached 119 games for the Islanders with a five-game playoff ouster in 2024 and a 35-35-12 mark this season.
Acquiring Alexander Romanov
Immediate impact: Romanov’s physicality and skating were a welcome addition after Lamoriello sent the 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft to the Canadiens for the then-22-year-old defenseman. It was a brilliant trade.
Future impact: The new GM can build his defense corps around Romanov, who is coming off a three-year, $7.5 million deal, and Dobson provided they don’t attract offer sheets from another team that the Islanders will have trouble matching.
Trading four straight first-round picks
Immediate impact: Lamoriello traded his first-round picks from 2020 to 2023 to acquire Pageau, Palmieri and Travis Zajac, Romanov and Horvat, with all but Zajac being long-term key pieces. But it also has left the organization short of top-end prospects.
Future impact: Lamoriello selected pure goal scorer Cole Eiserman with the 20th pick in 2024 and that’s a nice piece for the new GM even if he returns to Boston University for this coming season. Ritchie might be able to help next season coming from junior hockey. There’s also George, who got a taste of the NHL this season. But extensive work needs to be done rebuilding the talent pipeline from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
