Confirmed with Link: Lane Lambert Named Head Coach

[Rehabguy]

Jesus Christ. We get it already. Move on. You hate that Lou is the GM.

That's what you think. I just was disgusted by they hypocritical way Snow was treated by fans and then find all these excuses for Lou. I actually do like Lou and I actually thought it was time for Snow to go, it was inevitable, but it doesn't escape me that some of you guys can dish it out but can't handle it when the shoe is on the other foot.

Yes it is.


Why are you making this personal? People poked holes in your arguments. That's what happens on a discussion board where they can't say things face to face.

What holes? I'm the one poking the holes.

 

[Rehabguy]

yeeesh, I'm gonna go into these summer months with an open mind and breathe. The isles players won't forget the sting this year and may come back with some chips on their collective shoulders. Won't hurt to see press clippings that they were only the product of "trotz" hockey and are a bunch of no names. These guys as a group won many playoffs games and multiple series. I do expect a NEW coach smell to motivate them. Maybe the short term boost Lou was looking for. With that fellas, enjoy the playoffs, Let's go Canes.....ummmm those Jerks...

Yes I'm looking forward to next year. I'm glad it is Lambert. Everyone deserves a chance and I like the fact that Trotz system won't be completely deconstructed which what I interpreted when I heard the "new voice" comment by Lou. (That poor messaging was his fault btw... and Lou backtracked on it) All will be well, let's just hope Lou can make some smart trades to get this team to the next level.

Does this coaching change get us closer or further away from competing for a cup? What's done is done and Lambert is the guy. Hopefully he can instill the same d structure with some creativity and flexibility of generating some more offense.

There is certainly a back story on the firing that we may never know. Bottom line: Lou needs to deliver now and equip the new coach with the right ingredients of youth, speed, a transition game, and vets. There will be no one else to blame if this team falters and we are in the same position a year from now.

good post

 

[MJF]

That's what you think. I just was disgusted by they hypocritical way Snow was treated by fans and then find all these excuses for Lou. I actually do like Lou and I actually thought it was time for Snow to go, it was inevitable, but it escape me that some of you guys can dish it out but can't handle it when it comes your way.



What holes? I'm the one poking the holes.

Nobody is going to have a testimonial for a GM who was in place for 13 years and missed the playoffs 8 times. You like the players he acquired and the job he did? Fine. Snow couldn't hire a competent coach if his life depended on it. Therefore the best you'll get out of people here is Snow was a mixed bag. But since the playoffs are what really matters around here, Snow doesn't have a leg to stand on.

 

[CupHolders]

People out here being way too casual about losing the 3rd winningest coach of all time...And acting like a 57 year old rookie coach is going to step right in and there'll be no loss of quality behind the bench.

The Isles roster is entirely average when compared with the the other 31 teams. It was Trotz that was able to compensate for the holes and lack of talent, and thus he was the #1 reason for the great successes of the last 4 years.

Now that there's no question there's going to be a drop off in the coaching (it's just a question of how much), the onus is on Lou more than ever to seriously improve the level of talent on this team. Whereas before the coaching overcompensated for the lack of talent...Now the talent must overcompensate for the lack of elite coaching.

Because forget going for the Cup, right now this roster (with Lane Lambert as coach) doesn't even look like a playoff team - Especially given the rest of the talent in the Eastern Conference. And given the lack of a prospect pool and cap space, I don't know how Lou is going to make this team into a Cup contender this offseason. And if we can't compete for the Cup then what are we doing?

…I don’t know what you mean by casual. But is there something you specifically feel that fans should be doing? Especially in mid may?

I personally would’ve brought Trotz back. I’m a huge fan of his since Nashville. But maybe it’s my personality to not panic over something I don’t control and is strictly for entertainment.

Lou put a big target on his back, I hope ownership will hold him accountable to the results. That’s how things are supposed to work if done correctly.

 

[Rehabguy]

Nobody is going to have a testimonial for a GM who was in place for 13 years and missed the playoffs 8 times. You like the players he acquired and the job he did? Fine. Snow couldn't hire a competent coach if his life depended on it. Therefore the best you'll get out of people here is Snow was a mixed bag. But since the playoffs are what really matters around here, Snow doesn't have a leg to stand on.

He only has 3/4 of the current team to stand on right? Be fair. It's also fair to criticize Lou for not being able to keep a competent coach if his life depended on it.

 

[MJF]

…I don’t know what you mean by casual. But is there something you specifically feel that fans should be doing? Especially in mid may?

I personally would’ve brought Trotz back. I’m a huge fan of his since Nashville. But maybe it’s my personality to not panic over something I don’t control and is strictly for entertainment.

Lou put a big target on his back, I hope ownership will hold him accountable to the results. That’s how things are supposed to work if done correctly.

Billboards on Hempstead Turnpike calling for Lou to be fired.

 

[Rehabguy]

…I don’t know what you mean by casual. But is there something you specifically feel that fans should be doing? Especially in mid may?

I personally would’ve brought Trotz back. I’m a huge fan of his since Nashville. But maybe it’s my personality to not panic over something I don’t control and is strictly for entertainment.

Lou put a big target on his back, I hope ownership will hold him accountable to the results. That’s how things are supposed to work if done correctly.

Personally I think he took that target off his back when he hired Lambert.

 

[MJF]

He only has 3/4 of the current team to stand on right? Be fair. It's also fair to criticize Lou for not being able to keep a competent coach if his life depended on it.

You can check my posts on the Trotz matter. I made myself clear on this.

Personally I think he took that target off his back when he hired Lambert.

I don't see how. Lou just went to the mat for a roster that everyone thinks is greater than the sum of it's parts and has overachieved for 4 years. A roster at the TDL Lou said he wanted to bring back again next season because of all the extenuating circumstances that sunk us this year.

 

[Rehabguy]

I don't see how. Lou just went to the mat for a roster that everyone thinks is greater than the sum of it's parts and has overachieved for 4 years. A roster at the TDL Lou said he wanted to bring back again next season because of all the extenuating circumstances that sunk us this year.

Well, like Lou, I still believe in this team. I think with our youth pointed in the right direction (I would like to see Aatu Raty up with the team sooner than later), Lambert hopefully easing a little bit on the reins, and we having none extraneous circumstances to deal with the Isles will be right up there with the rest of the playoff teams. Hiring Lambert was key to this because it's NOT that the team lacks talent. It's just that it has the certain kind of talent that works well in defensive style system. You ask the Leafs to play this game and it's just not going to happen. I think there are girls on that team. Based on Lou's initial comments I just thought he was trying to redo this team midstream in the middle of best chances for the current core to be a Cup contender. That was what was anger provoking for me. It made no sense. You can't convert this team to a run and gun team overnight. That would have taken an overhaul and we don't have the assets and we don't have the time because the core is getting too old. But thank god he didn't go there.

 

[The Lighthouse]

You can check my posts on the Trotz matter. I made myself clear on this.


I don't see how. Lou just went to the mat for a roster that everyone thinks is greater than the sum of it's parts and has overachieved for 4 years. A roster at the TDL Lou said he wanted to bring back again next season because of all the extenuating circumstances that sunk us this year.

IMO massive gamble, because while the team had wonderful playoff performances in 2020-21, had there been a full season in 19-20 they were on a trajectory that would have dropped them out of the playoff pack before lockdown intervened. The team system held up just enough for them to get to the dance, until it didn't.

 

[CupHolders]

Nobody is going to have a testimonial for a GM who was in place for 13 years and missed the playoffs 8 times. You like the players he acquired and the job he did? Fine. Snow couldn't hire a competent coach if his life depended on it. Therefore the best you'll get out of people here is Snow was a mixed bag. But since the playoffs are what really matters around here, Snow doesn't have a leg to stand on.

Agree. IMO, The longer a GM is in their position the less their specific transactions matter over W/L record. Snow’s failure to turn his own roster into any meaningful success after 13 years is what makes him a failed mediocre GM.

 

[Rehabguy]

Agree. IMO, The longer a GM is in their position the less their specific transactions matter over W/L record. Snow’s failure to turn his own roster into any meaningful success is what makes him a failed mediocre GM.

Nonsense. You either build up a solid line-up or you don't. This is a winning line-up. Snow's problem or misfortune was not hiring the proper coaching staff.

 

[Throttle]

People out here being way too casual about losing the 3rd winningest coach of all time...And acting like a 57 year old rookie coach is going to step right in and there'll be no loss of quality behind the bench.

The Isles roster is entirely average when compared with the the other 31 teams. It was Trotz that was able to compensate for the holes and lack of talent, and thus he was the #1 reason for the great successes of the last 4 years.

Now that there's no question there's going to be a drop off in the coaching (it's just a question of how much), the onus is on Lou more than ever to seriously improve the level of talent on this team. Whereas before the coaching overcompensated for the lack of talent...Now the talent must overcompensate for the lack of elite coaching.

Because forget going for the Cup, right now this roster (with Lane Lambert as coach) doesn't even look like a playoff team - Especially given the rest of the talent in the Eastern Conference. And given the lack of a prospect pool and cap space, I don't know how Lou is going to make this team into a Cup contender this offseason. And if we can't compete for the Cup then what are we doing?

Considering how supportive Isles fans are of the fanbase when it is not competitive, if you built a $1B arena, do you intentionally 'rebuild' after missing the playoffs and post B2B-conference final losses when you finally have a captive audience spending money on your team? Fan may want it, business says otherwise.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Agree. IMO, The longer a GM is in their position the less their specific transactions matter over W/L record. Snow’s failure to turn his own roster into any meaningful success is what makes him a failed mediocre GM.

GM career point per game percentage of 51%

 

[CRYHAVOC]

That's what you think. I just was disgusted by they hypocritical way Snow was treated by fans and then find all these excuses for Lou. I actually do like Lou and I actually thought it was time for Snow to go, it was inevitable, but it escape me that some of you guys can dish it out but can't handle it when the shoe is on the other foot.

I'm certainly no fan of Lou. I've also been highly critical of what Lou's done with this team. However, I was ecstatic when the ownership permitted Lou to remove Snow. Snow was a disaster. Some of what he did, no doubt, was determined by the financial constraints placed on him by Wang. The best quote I've read on this board, regarding Lou, was that he took a flawed roster he inherited from Snow and made it worse.

This roster is too old, too slow, and lacks elite talent. That said, there is a young core that can be built on. Unfortunately, there is next to nothing ready at the Bridge. These complaints are not new or unique. There was more than one criticism of Trotz's handling of this team during the season. Hopefully, Lambert will be better. I feel that Lou's going to give this roster at least one more year. So, I don't expect a drastic change. Whether that's a good thing, only time will tell.

 

[Disgraced Cosmonaut]

I think Barry wanted to dial back. That simple. I’m guessing he’d have fulfilled his contract, but Lou pulling the cord now preserved Lambert as an option.

Happy for Lane. We were losing him this off-season had this not gone down like this. Over the next few years, I think he is as good an option as we’ve got.

 

[Rehabguy]

The key to Lambert success will lay on his ability to tweak Trotz system so that the offense is allowed to take more chances, be more creative and pinch in when deemed appropriate by the individual players. That's was the difference in our losses to Cooper and the Bolts. Cooper had Trotz's number. He knew Trotz played a game of odds while Cooper see's it as a game of chance. Trotz believes if you wait long enough odds are the other team will make a mistake and you will get a good scoring chance.

Cooper believed that you took chances only when you saw fit. Cooper knows how to win the big games and win championships. He proves it over and over again. Trotz believed too much in his system to fault where when it looked like the Islanders should be taking chances and having the defenseman pinching in or the forwards getting in better offensive position the players were encouraged to stay back instead and play it safe. This leads to low GA average but clearly hurt the Isles GF average. Trotz is too risk adverse and when you have a player like Barzal on your team, he's all about taking risks.

Cooper basically told his team don't worry about the Islanders offense. As long as you minimize the mistakes they won't mount an attack. They'll sit back and try to keep the pucks to the perimeter. But he knew no defense is infallible. You keep creating chances and eventually one will sneak in. That's why it always seemed like they beat us by 1 goal at the most critical point in the game. When they saw the chance they struck.

So I have big hopes that Lambert will give the offense a little bit of a green light to use their creativity. Go all in when on the offense but hustle back and be prepared to defend using Trotz system. It won't be as successful clogging up the neutral zone and there will be greater goals against but it should improve the Islander's offense maybe enough to win the big games. It should also make the game more exciting to watch for all.

 

[CupHolders]

I'm certainly no fan of Lou. I've also been highly critical of what Lou's done with this team. However, I was ecstatic when the ownership permitted Lou to remove Snow. Snow was a disaster. Some of what he did, no doubt, was determined by the financial constraints placed on him by Wang. The best quote I've read on this board, regarding Lou, was that he took a flawed roster he inherited from Snow and made it worse.

This roster is too old, too slow, and lacks elite talent. That said, there is a young core that can be built on. Unfortunately, there is next to nothing ready at the Bridge. These complaints are not new or unique. There was more than one criticism of Trotz's handling of this team during the season. Hopefully, Lambert will be better. I feel that Lou's going to give this roster at least one more year. So, I don't expect a drastic change. Whether that's a good thing, only time will tell.

Honest question. Where is it worse?

Goaltending?

Halak and Greiss vs. Sorokin/Varlamov

Defense?

Leddy, Boychuck and struggling prospects vs. Pelech, Pulock, Mayfield turning into legitimate players and now Dobson

Forwards?

If you want to count losing Tavares. Maybe there is a downgrade. Nelson improved, but that might not be much of an offset. Other forwards are mostly the same and started to age out.

Prospect pool?

Maybe. Most of them have graduated to the NHL. Competing hasn’t allowed them to replenish picks.

So getting younger at forward and replenishing depth are all legitimate arguments and needs. But I don’t see this roster as made worse than before. And I think the younger core is better defined now.

 

[Rehabguy]

I'm certainly no fan of Lou. I've also been highly critical of what Lou's done with this team. However, I was ecstatic when the ownership permitted Lou to remove Snow. Snow was a disaster. Some of what he did, no doubt, was determined by the financial constraints placed on him by Wang. The best quote I've read on this board, regarding Lou, was that he took a flawed roster he inherited from Snow and made it worse.

This roster is too old, too slow, and lacks elite talent. That said, there is a young core that can be built on. Unfortunately, there is next to nothing ready at the Bridge. These complaints are not new or unique. There was more than one criticism of Trotz's handling of this team during the season. Hopefully, Lambert will be better. I feel that Lou's going to give this roster at least one more year. So, I don't expect a drastic change. Whether that's a good thing, only time will tell.

I think the team lost it's offensive punch simply when Tavares decided to get up and walk and left us with no assets in return. And I do blame Lou a bit for this. I believe he was brought in to impress Tavares that there was going to stability in this organization if he decided to stay. Based upon what I saw in recent days I'm not so sure he believes in holding onto key UFA's just like he didn't with the NJ Devils. It was like train of cornerstones of Devils that he just let walk year after to the point that the team was a shell of it's former self. I don't have confidence that Lou tried much at all to retain Tavares and if we take what he said at face value it simply for the fact the the Islanders were not winning with him as the face of the franchise. He was too "casual" about it. Maybe he didn't feel too invested in Tavares as he had just joined the organization and he was trying to construct somewhat of a clean slate. I think Snow eventually built a good core with Tavares on it, but when you lose a player like that for nothing it does serious damage.

Here's Lou's last 10 years with the Devils article

Which comes to the conclusion:

"Lamoriello's reliance on aging forwards and his poor recent drafting record up front have put his former team in a position where they must rebuild. Both of these problems stem directly from Lamoriello, and there is little that can be done to view these factors in a positive light."

His solution for the loss of key UFA's was always to just bring in aging vets. As you said predictably he did this with the Isles as well and this was one of the reasons why I wasn't all head over heels over his hiring because I was worried he was going to make this team old and slow like his former Devils and unfortunately he did.

 

[Rehabguy]

Honest question. Where is it worse?

Goaltending?

Halak and Greiss vs. Sorokin/Varlamov

Defense?

Leddy, Boychuck and struggling prospects vs. Pelech, Pulock, Mayfield turning into legitimate players and now Dobson

Forwards?

If you want to count losing Tavares. Maybe there is a downgrade. Nelson improved, but that might not be much of an offset. Other forwards are mostly the same and started to age out.

Prospect pool?

Maybe. Most of them have graduated to the NHL. Competing hasn’t allowed them to replenish picks.

So getting younger at forward and replenishing depth are all legitimate arguments and needs. But I don’t see this roster as made worse than before. But I think the younger core is better defined now.

Leddy was a big loss. That is on the GM to see that his speed was a critical player in the Islander's transition game. Maybe if he didn't blow some of his wad on Hickey's AHL stint we would have had a little more money in the bank to hold onto Leddy.

 

[Big L]

I think the team lost it's offensive punch simply when Tavares decided to get up and walk and left us with no assets in return. And I do blame Lou a bit for this. I believe he was brought in to impress Tavares that there was going to stability in this organization if he decided to stay. Based upon what I saw in recent days I'm not so sure he believes in holding onto key UFA's just like he didn't with the NJ Devils. It was like train of cornerstones of Devils that he just walk year after to the point that the team was a shell of it's former self. I don't have confidence that Lou tried much at tall to retain Tavares and if we take what he said at face value it simply for the fact the the Islanders were not winning with him as the face of the franchise. He was too "casual" about it. I think Snow eventually built a good core with Tavares on it, but when you lose a player like that for nothing it does serious damage.

Here's Lou's last 10 years with the Devils article

His solution for the loss of key UFA's was always to just bring in aging vets. As you said predictably he did this with the Isles as well and this was one of the reasons wasn't all head over heels over his hiring because I was worried he was going to make this team old and slow like his former Devils and unfortunately he did.

Lou was ‘casual’ with Tavares because Lou wasn’t going to over pay and hamper the franchise for years to come. Lou presented an offer good for the franchise and JT, and JT took the extra $ with Toronto.

Leddy was a big loss. That is on the GM to see that his speed was a critical player in the Islander's transition game. Maybe if he didn't blow some of his wad on Hickey's AHL stint we would have had a little more money in the bank to hold onto Leddy.

Leddy turned the puck over at a rate that would rival this years turnover free-for-all. Don’t make Leddy out to be some sort of legend.

 

[doublechili]

People out here being way too casual about losing the 3rd winningest coach of all time...And acting like a 57 year old rookie coach is going to step right in and there'll be no loss of quality behind the bench.

The Isles roster is entirely average when compared with the the other 31 teams. It was Trotz that was able to compensate for the holes and lack of talent, and thus he was the #1 reason for the great successes of the last 4 years.

Now that there's no question there's going to be a drop off in the coaching (it's just a question of how much), the onus is on Lou more than ever to seriously improve the level of talent on this team. Whereas before the coaching overcompensated for the lack of talent...Now the talent must overcompensate for the lack of elite coaching.

Because forget going for the Cup, right now this roster (with Lane Lambert as coach) doesn't even look like a playoff team - Especially given the rest of the talent in the Eastern Conference. And given the lack of a prospect pool and cap space, I don't know how Lou is going to make this team into a Cup contender this offseason. And if we can't compete for the Cup then what are we doing?

There are two issues. One is personnel, and Lou didn't get the LHD the team needed this past season. But wasn't it also pretty obvious this past season that the players weren't responding to Trotz as they did the prior seasons?

Trotz' system is demanding to execute, and after a couple of abbreviated seasons it seems like the players simply weren't able/willing to do it again for a full 82 game season. Do we have any reason to believe that their mindset would have been any different under Trotz next season?

 

[Rehabguy]

Lou was ‘casual’ with Tavares because Lou wasn’t going to over pay and hamper the franchise for years to come. Lou presented an offer good for the franchise and JT, and JT took the extra $ with Toronto.


Leddy turned the puck over at a rate that would rival this years turnover free-for-all. Don’t make Leddy out to be some sort of legend.

re: Tavares: my understanding was that he took paycut to join the Leafs. And if it looked like the Isles had one big gaping hole in offense when Tavares left that's because they did have a big gaping hole that got bigger as the years passed without him on the team.

Leddy was a big loss to the Isles being able to transition out of their D-zone. That should have been clear to anyone including casual fans.

 

[Seph]

That's what you think. I just was disgusted by they hypocritical way Snow was treated by fans and then find all these excuses for Lou. I actually do like Lou and I actually thought it was time for Snow to go, it was inevitable, but it doesn't escape me that some of you guys can dish it out but can't handle it when the shoe is on the other foot.

Fans judging both GMs based on the level of success they achieved with the team is the opposite of hypocritical. Expecting fans to do otherwise while also accusing them of bias certainly makes you sound like a hypocrite, though.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Speaking of messaging I find it unsettling that these boards are ran so that the message agrees with only one point of view and contrary opinions are being stifled. I

That doesn't happen at all unless you're constantly in the tiny minority and/or irrational when it comes to opinions.