Islanders Name Lou Lamoriello Team President

So, the Lou Lamoriello rumors got a little more substance today when Arthur Staple mentioned Lamoriello “will be running the Islanders’ hockey operations in a matter of days, sources confirmed to The Athletic on Monday.” He joins his son Chris, already Isles Assistant GM. Lou Lamoriello was removed as GM for the Maple Leafs for Kyle Dubas at the end of April. Over his esteemed career as an NHL executive, as GM of the Devils, Lamoriello helped solidify New Jersey and win 3 Stanley Cups. As GM of the Leafs, he helped add top talent and enabled the Leafs to make the playoffs before losing to Boston, 4 games to 3, last season. Lamoriello joined the Toronto organization in 2015 and was the reason behind drafting players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

It’s been confirmed that Lou Lamoriello will be running hockey operations as Team President. His new role will be to oversee ("having full authority") any and all hockey operations for the New York Islanders. He is reserving any further comments at this time. That means 12-year GM, Garth Snow (4 playoff appearances and 1 playoff round win in 2016 vs. Fla) could be reassigned with 4 years remaining on his contract or fired with a “steep buy out,” per Staple. Sources say Snow and Lamoriello are close friends, so I’d expect him to remain in some capacity, or even stay as GM under his watch, but he has fired people for much less over his tenure in the NHL. Garth Snow and Doug Weight were in Denmark scouting the Worlds’ last week.

Elliotte Friedman added a few details today as well. “I'm not exactly sure how it will all work, but we've all believed Lamoriello will eventually run the NYI hockey operations department...and it's believed he represented the Islanders when he spoke to Tavares … More details are to come in the next few days, but there was contact last week between UFA-to-be John Tavares and former TOR GM Lou Lamoriello … On Lamoriello/NYI/Tavares contact, I’m told that in the eyes of the NHL, there are no issues with the process.” It seems like the Ownership group of Malkin and Ledecky want it to be so. And I doubt they stop at Lamoriello. Rumors of former Islander, Tom Fitzgerald, is possibly in line to join the front office as well - perhaps as the GM to Lamoriello’s President? The next few days should be interesting. Will moves like this be enough to keep impending free-agent and team captain, John Tavares in the organization?

Staple added, “Malkin has been meeting regularly with Pat Brisson, Tavares’ agent, and those two most likely arranged the sit-down. The Dec. 20 announcement that the Islanders won the right to develop an arena at Belmont Park was a big step towards that respectability, especially in Tavares’ eyes. 'For my situation, it’s really exciting news. I’m not going to say it’s going to change or ultimately make my decision, but everything that’s involved in my daily life plays into it and going to the rink, playing games is a big part of that,’ Tavares said at the press conference that day.”

Lou Lamoriello brings a no-nonsense, accountable, proven NHL level executive presence to a franchise in desperate need to reinvent their image and change a culture of mediocrity and crap-shoot gambles. Some may see the 75-year-old as a bit of the old guard, but the man knows hockey. He proved what he could do with Brendan Shanahan in rebuilding a solid base for a struggling but respected and sacred franchise in Toronto. The New York Islanders have quality free agents to evaluate and a lot of moves to make this summer, even before the July 1^st open to free agency. The new-look management group have the 11th and 12th picks in June’s NHL Entry Draft, along with some NHL and prospect talent to negotiate with. It starts with Tavares, then a quality NHL netminder and a few more pieces to perhaps galvanize a new culture for the organization, poised to reinstate its winning traditions with Belmont on the horizon.

What will today's move actually mean for our New York Islanders? I can’t wait to find out.

Isles Notes:

Anders Lee and Team USA win Bronze at 2018 IIHF Worlds.

Isles Draft Party is set for June 22nd at 5:00pm at the old Barn.

Per @IgorEronko, “Thing is I heard it from his Russian agent. Who will get NHL licence soon. Spoke a bit to Sorokin today. Said: 'Sure, someday I would be proud to be a part of NY rivalry'. Money is a factor absolutely. But so is doubtful management. Sorokin is the highest paid CSKA player now.”

Per Arthur Staple, “Been asked about @IgorEronko's tweet re: Sorokin and Snow. Here's what I know: -- It's still about $ -- Sorokin makes a lot of it in the KHL and doesn't want to play on a 2-year ELC. -- Sorokin's US-based agent was Snow's agent. Would be an odd way to show he dislikes GS.”

Per Rob Taub, “These words from my interview with Jeremy Roenick: “If the Islanders don’t get a goaltender in the offseason, I’m convinced they don’t want to win anymore.” #Isles”

Sound Tigers Notes:

The @NYIslanders have signed Travis St. Denis (F) to a two-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) deal.

The #AHL will have a new division alignment in 2018-19.