Islanders Gameday News: Lou speaks, trip continues in Anaheim

2 days ago  /  Lighthouse Hockey  /  Read Time: 40 seconds

One more run for some of these guys. | Photo by Panayiota Good/NHLI via Getty Images


The GM lays out his approach and his role. The Islanders are in Anaheim to attempt to build off Saturday night’s business-like 4-2 win over the Sharks.
In their post-deadline reality, Lou Lamoriello came down from the mountain to speak to media, answer questions and restate his philosophy once and for all. The full scrum is worth watching (it’s also embedded below) if you want to hear it straight from Lou’s mouth, but key points regarding the deadline and approach:

Tried to re-sign Brock Nelson with a “fair” offer for his role and age, but could not come to agreement; “won’t apologize for” trying to resign another 30s-forward, because Nelson is important to the team and a position that is difficult to replace.
Is not into a “teardown” or “rebuild” (words he doesn’t like) or something where you’re “depleting, depleting,” because that “takes 10 years” {ed. casts sideeye at Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago...} and will always be looking for ways to make the team better and “be competitive today.” Where your team is at the deadline always tells you how much future vs. present risk you are willing to take.
Since Nelson wasn’t re-signing, they found a good deal with a prospect they expect to step into the lineup next year, but otherwise they weren’t interested in trading vets just for draft picks rather than players. “If we could’ve gotten younger and better — not just getting draft picks — we would’ve done it.” But those moves are now more likely to come over the summer. For now, four points out, doesn’t want to give up on “the guys in that room.”
Knows they need to get younger, but was hoping to have Nelson here through that transition; “we know we need to do more than what has just transpired.” That said, talking to Kyle Palmieri and hoping to find agreement “under our terms, similar to Brock, because young players will be infused in this lineup...but [deal with Palmieri] may not happen. We’ll see.”
Asked about Scott Malkin: “To put that to rest...where that comes from, I don’t know.” No, he does not have “autonomy” because yes, he has a boss, he’s always had a boss in his career and every GM in every sport has a boss, and has never done anything without talking to his boss, working with his boss.

Anyway, the Isles play the Ducks tonight and feel they’re right in the thick of the race.
First Islanders Goal picks go here.
Islanders News
Lou also said Semyon Varlamov is unlikely to appear again this season, and Mat Barzal is still a “hope” but they won’t push it, must be 100%. Would have Calum Ritchie come in (but not play) when his OHL season is over, but he hopes instead he goes on a Memorial Cup run.


Mike Reilly also was allowed to speak to media, reflecting on his health journey as he’s resumed skating with the team. [Isles | Newsday]
Takeaways from the win over the Sharks: “Where we’ve stood throughout the season, we’ve always had that sense of urgency, but we need the results now,” says the captain. [Isles | LHH | Post]

Newsday and the Post interpret Lou’s scrum as change (to the roster) is coming in summer.
Previewing tonight: No morning skate, so we’ll find out before game time whether Ilya Sorokin gets the back-to-back start after a busy night last night. [Isles]
...but Marcus Hogberg has been activated off of IR. [THN]

Elsewhere
Ten games across the league Saturday, including the Smurfs blowing it against Ottawa to lose in OT.

Mitch Marner responds, briefly and cagily, to the report that he was asked to waive his no-trade clause to be part of a package for Mikko Rantanen. Marner has not really engaged in extension talks, apparently, so it will be really shocking to see him sign with the Isles. [Sportsnet]
Rantanen has had a crazy six weeks. [NHL]
An era has ended in Boston with their last Cup winner Brad Marchand and others shipped out the door. [NHL]
Marchand and the Bruins could not close the gap on money. [ESPN]
Bourne with two sentences on every trade. [Sportsnet]
...

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