Lou Lamoriello offers insight into Islanders’ offseason plans: “There will be change”
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Lou Lamoriello didn’t seem content with how the trade deadline unfolded when he spoke to reporters before the Islanders’ 4-2 victory over the Sharks on Saturday.
While he expressed satisfaction with the return, especially prospect Calum Ritchie, the Islanders GM admitted he would have preferred to keep Brock Nelson but was forced to trade him after the team’s contract negotiations were rejected.
Although Lamoriello is working on extending Kyle Palmieri, he emphasized that the team will seek further changes, particularly in an effort to get younger. Names like Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anders Lee are likely to dominate trade rumors come the offseason.
“If we could have gotten younger and better, aside from draft picks, we would have done it without hesitation,” Lamoriello said. “We felt that for some of our players—when I say some, several—we could have made moves with them, but it would be better to do that at a different time. What we need to bring into the lineup, those players will be available. That was the decision we made.
“Along the way, we also considered this season. We’re four points out [as of Saturday morning], and we didn’t want to give up on the guys in that room while still staying aligned with our trade deadline goals. But I can assure you, if there were other players, not necessarily of the caliber we acquired, but close, there would have been more moves.”
Lamoriello made it clear that the word “rebuild” isn’t in his vocabulary, describing it as a decade-long process that he’s not interested in. Instead, he referred to the process as a “retool.”
“I can’t find the perfect word for it, but we know we need to do more than what has just transpired,” Lamoriello said. “We feel very strongly about that.”
It seems Palmieri will be part of the Islanders’ plans moving forward, as his camp is negotiating an extension with Lamoriello. So will Ritchie, the center acquired from the Avalanche, who could make the roster next season.
“Any team we talked to [for Nelson] had to offer their top prospect,” Lamoriello said. “I’m fortunate for the organization that we were able to get a quality player who plays that position and could step right into the lineup. The only reason he played just seven games this year was that Colorado wanted to save a year of his entry-level contract.”
The Islanders presented a united front on Saturday, with principal owner Scott Malkin—who rarely appears publicly and spends much of his time in London—joining Lamoriello to meet with reporters. Malkin declined to answer questions, but his presence seemed to signal that ownership is on board with Lamoriello. Lamoriello also took the opportunity to confirm that he indeed has a boss.
“Anyone who thinks I operate independently in my position is mistaken. No one in my role in any of the four major sports does,” Lamoriello said. “Why and where this comes from, I don’t know.”
The final vision for the Islanders remains unclear, and while the pace of change may be slower than some hoped, Lamoriello suggested that Nelson might not be the last long-tenured Islander to be traded before the end of next season.
“There will be change this summer,” Lamoriello said. “Until there’s change, you can’t say how much. But I can assure you, there will be change.”
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