>Having a dressing room full of BFFs, as the Islanders have had for quite some time, was a huge advantage in the team reaching the NHL semifinals in 2020 and 2021, especially in the COVID-19 playoff bubbles that first season. Now it seems the room has gotten too comfortable.
>Both Roy and Lamoriello are scheduled to address the media on Friday after speaking with their players. That’s likely the first clue that Lamoriello not only expects to be back next season but that ownership likely wants the Hall of Fame executive, who turns 82 in October, to return.
>All it takes is an untrained eye (no jokes, please) to see the Islanders need to get younger and faster. True, top-pair defensemen Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov are both 24 and top-liner Mathew Barzal is only turning 27 later this month. But the Islanders’ average age of 29.4 was the oldest among the Eastern Conference’s playoff qualifiers and the third oldest among the 16 postseason teams.
>Plus, after trading his last four first-round picks for Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Romanov and Bo Horvat, the Islanders’ minor-league system is short — some outlets have rated it as devoid — of elite prospects.
>But all the deference to the 1970s and 1980s also highlights that this is an organization that has not qualified for a Cup Final since 1984 and has been to the conference final just three times since then. It’s a reminder this organization did not qualify for the playoffs between 1995-2001 and did not advance out of the first round between 1994-2015.
>And now the Islanders have not gotten out of the first round since 2021.
>So stop selling the past. Make a better future.
VinPickles
Andrew’s going on the offensive, wow.
M_Y_K_E
Not to be agist or anything but being 82 and working is crazy. I really hope they are either developing a young hockey mind or at least looking at potential people to bring in along Lou.
DatingAdviceGiver101
Terrible news to hear this guy is back. I know this was the likely outcome, but I was hoping to hear some unexpected news of his departure (whether voluntary or involuntary).
M00ltiPass
Just as a note, the Sabres had Don Granato scheduled for his year end press conference and then fired him before it came. It’s not to say that this is the same scenario, but that fanbase was sure that meant Granato was a lock to return and it absolutely didn’t wind up meaning that. In other words, I’m still high on hopium that Lou won’t be with the team next year.
5 Comments
>Having a dressing room full of BFFs, as the Islanders have had for quite some time, was a huge advantage in the team reaching the NHL semifinals in 2020 and 2021, especially in the COVID-19 playoff bubbles that first season. Now it seems the room has gotten too comfortable.
>Both Roy and Lamoriello are scheduled to address the media on Friday after speaking with their players. That’s likely the first clue that Lamoriello not only expects to be back next season but that ownership likely wants the Hall of Fame executive, who turns 82 in October, to return.
>All it takes is an untrained eye (no jokes, please) to see the Islanders need to get younger and faster. True, top-pair defensemen Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov are both 24 and top-liner Mathew Barzal is only turning 27 later this month. But the Islanders’ average age of 29.4 was the oldest among the Eastern Conference’s playoff qualifiers and the third oldest among the 16 postseason teams.
>Plus, after trading his last four first-round picks for Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Kyle Palmieri, Romanov and Bo Horvat, the Islanders’ minor-league system is short — some outlets have rated it as devoid — of elite prospects.
>But all the deference to the 1970s and 1980s also highlights that this is an organization that has not qualified for a Cup Final since 1984 and has been to the conference final just three times since then. It’s a reminder this organization did not qualify for the playoffs between 1995-2001 and did not advance out of the first round between 1994-2015.
>And now the Islanders have not gotten out of the first round since 2021.
>So stop selling the past. Make a better future.
Andrew’s going on the offensive, wow.
Not to be agist or anything but being 82 and working is crazy. I really hope they are either developing a young hockey mind or at least looking at potential people to bring in along Lou.
Terrible news to hear this guy is back. I know this was the likely outcome, but I was hoping to hear some unexpected news of his departure (whether voluntary or involuntary).
Just as a note, the Sabres had Don Granato scheduled for his year end press conference and then fired him before it came. It’s not to say that this is the same scenario, but that fanbase was sure that meant Granato was a lock to return and it absolutely didn’t wind up meaning that. In other words, I’m still high on hopium that Lou won’t be with the team next year.