New York Islanders: Lamoriello Contract Not Renewed; John Collins Searching for Next GM

[The Lighthouse]

This is a sign that Collins is now in control of the direction of the franchise, he had a plan in place, and now he’s executing it.

He came in while Lou was in charge. He waited for Lou to fail and/or retire.

This should be fun as Lou changed the perception of the Isles, but also brought some traditional things along the way. Collins is savvy business guy with a different view on things in the positive.

Now I'm wondering what the plan is for radio.

 

[MJF]

Okay, but what does that have to do with my comment? Nothing you said backs up being celebratory.

Very few people believed there was a competitive future here for this team with the path we're on. That's why you perceive a celebratory mood. The others are not afraid of sucking for 5 years with the hope of a better return on investment in the future. This is not to be feared, it's to be embraced.

 

[Throttle]

Now I'm wondering what the plan is for radio.

My guess is Collins felt it was amateur hour, so he’s either going to simulcast the actual broadcast for the 10 radio listeners or upgrade the team. Put the Pennies they spent on King/Picker elsewhere.

 

[The Lighthouse]

If it's a general trend in the NHL I guess that simulcasting is just going to be the thing, if not and the plan is just to be a simulcast pioneer, I'm not sure that's the pinnacle of professionalism and is more a return to Wang's world.

 

[Throttle]

Most people don’t know where the am/fm radio is on their car. Time to get with the times.

 

[Thrasymachus]

I'm confused. Why would anyone want Kevin Weekes as a GM?

Did Weekes kill someone's dog or something that I missed?

 

[Thrasymachus]

Enough with the conspiracy theories guys... smh

Lou left the Islanders after agreeing to become the next Pope..

he made them a psalm they couldn't refuse

 

[Thrasymachus]

Darche would certainly seem to be a candidate.

Anyone else picturing the obnoxious skier from South Park?

 

[BrockLobster]

Most people don’t know where the am/fm radio is on their car. Time to get with the times.

Yea my car doesn't even have AM. Which was annoying when looking for mets games. So i assume they will be switching to some streaming situation.

 

[PK Cronin]

Most people don’t know where the am/fm radio is on their car. Time to get with the times.

Just hire two good people to do a livestream on a specific platform, no need for the actual radio. Having specific audio for those not watching is preferrable to just simulcasting though, since it requires more attention to detail for the broadcasters.

 

[seabass45]

Three most frequent candidates for GM positions around the league I keep seeing recently.

Mathieu Darche- Tampa Director of Hockey Ops/assistant GM

Ryan Bowness- Sens Assistant GM/AHL GM (was a pro scout and director of Pro scouting for the Pens)

Scott White- Dallas assistant GM/AHL GM and was previously the director of hockey operations for a few years.

Without having much knowledge of White, very intrigued about taking someone from a team that has done an extremely good job of drafting outside the top spots.

 

[Rehabguy]

This is one thing that we can thank both the new ownership *and* LL for - there hasn't been any known disfunction within the Islanders in since LL was hired. The was the ordinary sort that comes with losing, but that happens anywhere there's losing. The stigma really is a thing of the past.

Even entering a retool after a failed 2024-25 team that followed pretenders, the franchise is in far better shape now than its been for most of my (now middle age) life. While there are some aging players on the roster, the bad contracts really aren't a significant hinderance. Bridgeport was awful and it appears as if there's only one player who finished the year down there who is likely to be an NHL player in the near future (George). But 'the farm' is actually getting better.

Relatedly, it makes more sense now that NYI did not sign Nelson, Finley, or Eiserman. High profile college prospects ask for things like burning a year off ELC's, and if LL was already notified he was being let go he was kind of a lame duck. (imo Eiserman should go back to BU anyway, but imo the other two are ready for pro development).

If the bolded was true there would be no reason to not extend his contract nor would any of the fans here be rejoicing. The there hasn't been any known "dysfunction" simply because Lou hasn't been doing much but adding a fringe player here or a fringe player there. No major moves like the UFAs we were promised. Nor has there been any clear sign of a retool or rebuild under his watch. This lack of direction WAS the "dysfunction". The franchise was stuck in the mud and going nowhere by design simply because he believed for far too long in this roster and bet the farm on that belief.

The strong core of players Lou inherited when he got here was the result of years of trades, negotiations, good trades AND bad trades, good acquisitions and bad acquisitions, good contracts and bad contracts. This happens with all rebuilds and it will happen again with the next GM. But Lou's predecessor had a plan and he announced to the team and its fans that he wanted a slow build through the draft. He made that clear when he was hired and he produced the very roster that made it to the last 2 ECF. Lou had no vision other than he was going to ride the coattails of the previous regimes work and maintain it all the while hiring coaches with wildly contrasting coaching philosophies. He made some moves at the end of his tenure ship that seemed more reactionary rather than visionary.

The new GM will issue in a new era of Snow-like hate because the process is a long and painful one. One that should have started 4 years ago and we are now behind schedule because Lou did not have an eye towards the future until it was too late. The question is can this fanbase stand another long rebuild. I kinda doubt that.

 

[ekill08x]

Did Weekes kill someone's dog or something that I missed?

No he just has no experience and you dont fire Lou for Kevin effing Weekes

 

[BMOK33]

Pierre McGuire for GM or I'm out

 

[Thrasymachus]

Pierre McGuire for GM or I'm out

Think of the memes!

 

[Thrasymachus]

No he just has no experience and you dont fire Lou for Kevin effing Weekes

Not even the corpse of Lou?

 

[SI90]

I love Matt Martin and Thomas Hickey but from the street to the GM seat absolutely not.

Hickey could be a guy down the line but I’d want him as an assistant GM/player development role first.

 

[Thrasymachus]

I love Matt Martin and Thomas Hickey but from the street to the GM seat absolutely not.

Hickey could be a guy down the line but I’d want him as an assistant GM/player development role first.

I would love to have Hickey or Martin (or both) in player development roles of some kind.

 

[SI90]

Starting to feel like John Collins is running the show and will name himself President of Hockey Operations and oversee all hockey decisions

 

[BMOK33]

I honestly never heard of John Collins til yesterday. Either I was asleep for 8 years or he was truly under the radar the whole time

 

[Throttle]

So the Isles almost fired Lou in December. Also, he was essentially fired before the end of the season.

I guess all the insiders are so dialed in, no one knew these two things considering the isles were allegedly in due diligence mode since Jan for his replacement.

Also, Collins is probably working with the league about the ASG at UBS or whatever they are going to do there. The Winter Classic was his brainchild.

 

[Throttle]

I honestly never heard of John Collins til yesterday. Either I was asleep for 8 years or he was truly under the radar the whole time

He’s a big deal in NHL circles. He’s been waiting for Lou to hang himself.

 

[Thrasymachus]

Starting to feel like John Collins is running the show

It does seem like that huh. Funny how quiet his arrival was - I don't remember a ton of fanfare about it, but now that the chips are down, he is the one holding the cards, calling the shots.

I sincerely hope he knows what the hell he is doing.

 

[Thrasymachus]

He’s a big deal in NHL circles. He’s been waiting for Lou to hang himself.

Ah yes, the classic Valentinian II, Arbogast scenario

 

[Throttle]

It does seem like that huh. Funny how quiet his arrival was - I don't remember a ton of fanfare about it, but now that the chips are down, he is the one holding the cards, calling the shots.

I sincerely hope he knows what the hell he is doing.

He’s going to gut the organization of Lou servants. He’ll keep the feel good Isles guys like Martin, hickey, Clutter, etc.

The Devils crew is toast.

Collins knows the power of Roy’s brand/name, but it’s whether or not Roy can stay in line, he’s always been shown to be erratic and cavalier - that’s not a good thing for management or one of his first moves running this thing. My guess is Roy respected Lou and was greatful to him, but also realized aligning to Lou in the long haul was not good corporate survival or for his future in the NHL (if he’s revived himself and that’s tbd).