Osakahaus
Chillin' on Fuji
- May 28, 2021
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When do we question Lou Lamoriello's legacy as a general manager?
- Thread starter Osakahaus
- Start date
- Sep 28, 2014
- 78,250
- 125,927
He should have retired 10 years ago
Dr Pepper
Registered User
It's deteriorating by the day, the longer he sticks to his antiquated "rules". 
Stickpucker
Playmaka
- Jan 18, 2014
- 16,470
- 40,077
Show some respekt. He kept the Islanders relevant after Tavares skipped on them and even made a few conference finals with no top 5 picks.
The Sabres would kill for that.
The Sabres would kill for that.
Marshall
A Mahoney guy
Question his legacy? No. It's impressive af.
Worry about his fit in his current position? Yeah.
Worry about his fit in his current position? Yeah.
The Islanders made the playoffs 5 out of the last 6 years and been in the conference finals os twice. The one time they didn’t they played a bunch of games on the road to start the season because their arena wasn’t finished (and lost the first few games there so it might have taken getting used to). They also got hit by the Covid bug earlier before the NHL and PA knew what to do.
I know a number of Islanders fans want a drastic rebuild. It could work. But you could end up like Buffalo, Ottawa and Phoenix..years of mediocrity and poor attendance. Even New Jersey has been a lot of misses since Kovalchuk left.
Lamariello’s legacy is will always be he took over a franchise that was a pathetic joke; that failed in two cities and an afterthought in its own market and made it a multiple Stanley Cup winner
I know a number of Islanders fans want a drastic rebuild. It could work. But you could end up like Buffalo, Ottawa and Phoenix..years of mediocrity and poor attendance. Even New Jersey has been a lot of misses since Kovalchuk left.
Lamariello’s legacy is will always be he took over a franchise that was a pathetic joke; that failed in two cities and an afterthought in its own market and made it a multiple Stanley Cup winner
WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
- 31,936
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When they retroactively take away the Cups he won.
Luigi Lemieux
Registered User
- Sep 26, 2003
- 22,439
- 11,316
He took a "Mickey Mouse franchise" and made them the best team of the dead puck era. That makes him a hall of famer.
But yea it's time to retire, he's handed out so many bad contracts lately and isles are in no man's land.
But yea it's time to retire, he's handed out so many bad contracts lately and isles are in no man's land.
Osakahaus
Chillin' on Fuji
- May 28, 2021
- 8,505
- 4,180
He's also creating another Milbury sized issue the longer he stays by refusing to get rid of players in the name of loyalty
TheBeerNerd
Registered User
Lou singlehandedly kept the Devils in New Jersey by keeping them a perennial contender in the early 90s and getting them a Cup, followed by two more. For this, we'll always be thankful for him.
He also did great damage to the team after the lockout by awful drafting, bad development, and moves meant to keep open a contending window that really should have been closed after the 2012 Cup run. Right now with him, it's the same story, but on Long Island instead of New Jersey. It's clear that in Toronto, he wasn't in full control, and Leafs fans should be thankful for that, because otherwise it'd be the same story.
His entire legacy will be mixed. You can't take away the good years but he's been bad at his job for at least a decade.
He also did great damage to the team after the lockout by awful drafting, bad development, and moves meant to keep open a contending window that really should have been closed after the 2012 Cup run. Right now with him, it's the same story, but on Long Island instead of New Jersey. It's clear that in Toronto, he wasn't in full control, and Leafs fans should be thankful for that, because otherwise it'd be the same story.
His entire legacy will be mixed. You can't take away the good years but he's been bad at his job for at least a decade.
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
He brought the Islanders the most success they’ve had since the Dynasty years, a team that had been a total afterthought .
He also helped bring the Leafs back into respectability.
He also helped bring the Leafs back into respectability.
Ace Card Bedard
Back in Black, Red, and White
- Feb 11, 2012
- 9,113
- 4,105
Legacy? He's a living legend.
You can't take that away.
Younger people may have no clue what the Devils were like before Lou took over.
They were the "Mickey Mouse" organization that was ruining the league accord to Wayne Gretzky.
He turned them into a powerhouse.
You can't take that away.
Younger people may have no clue what the Devils were like before Lou took over.
They were the "Mickey Mouse" organization that was ruining the league accord to Wayne Gretzky.
He turned them into a powerhouse.
King In The North
Sean Bennett
Old man still trying to hang. He has self sabotaged both the Leafs and Islanders franchises with his moves and signings.
Lt Dan
F*** your ice cream!
CaptainShark
Registered User
I think he represents stability.
So many of his teams have those guys who you may think have been in the league forever. They rarely make stupid rash decisions. It’s just a really reliable situation always. You know what you’re going to get when you face his teams - it’s been about the same forever.
Maybe that isn’t the ideal approach when you experience a pandemic shutdown then stagnant cap, so it hasn’t looked so great for a bit.
Maybe Lou could be faulted for failing to adapt but at the same time, he’s sticking with his style and I respect that.
I think his legacy is quite clear, just hurts quite a bit when you end on a down note.
So many of his teams have those guys who you may think have been in the league forever. They rarely make stupid rash decisions. It’s just a really reliable situation always. You know what you’re going to get when you face his teams - it’s been about the same forever.
Maybe that isn’t the ideal approach when you experience a pandemic shutdown then stagnant cap, so it hasn’t looked so great for a bit.
Maybe Lou could be faulted for failing to adapt but at the same time, he’s sticking with his style and I respect that.
I think his legacy is quite clear, just hurts quite a bit when you end on a down note.
RANDOMH3RO
Registered User
- Jan 19, 2007
- 1,705
- 836
Nothing will touch Lou’s legacy. The moves he made to acquire Brodeur, Stevens, and Niedermayer gave the team an identity that brought them 3 cups and 5 trips to the final. He helped bring Toronto back to the playoffs and should have been kept around to negotiate with matthews and Marner. He’s also been at the helm for the islanders best years since they were a dynasty 40 years ago. I get that he’s not a whiz anymore, but to act like he’s a complete embarrassment when he’s known nothing but success is strange. It is probably time for him to retire, and I hope the devils decide to honour him soon. His legacy is cemented.
Seriously?
If you want to make the case it's time to move on, shoot your shot. I don't have an opinion as I don't follow the Islanders close enough.
As for legacy, in addition to his 3 Stanley Cups, have we forgotten that NYI appeared in the conference final back to back as recently as 2020 and 2021?
If you want to make the case it's time to move on, shoot your shot. I don't have an opinion as I don't follow the Islanders close enough.
As for legacy, in addition to his 3 Stanley Cups, have we forgotten that NYI appeared in the conference final back to back as recently as 2020 and 2021?
Lou brought stability and respect to the Island. His legacy is locked in.
But it is probably time for him to step aside as GM. He could remain as team President. But time to pass off the GM duties to someone else.
But it is probably time for him to step aside as GM. He could remain as team President. But time to pass off the GM duties to someone else.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
Nobody can be in the NHL game for 40 years without some marks on their record. Scotty Bowman got fired in Buffalo. Al Arbour’s second stint as a coach was mediocre. David Poile’s teams lost more games than they won. The list goes on and on.
Nobody remembers that stuff when it comes to legacy. Only a select few have had long careers with a strong run of success resulting in multiple Stanley Cups. Lou is one of them, that will be the legacy people remember and care about in the long run.
Nobody remembers that stuff when it comes to legacy. Only a select few have had long careers with a strong run of success resulting in multiple Stanley Cups. Lou is one of them, that will be the legacy people remember and care about in the long run.
IWantSakicAsMyGM
Registered User
Couple of questions about those 3 moves.
Didn't he draft down in the 1990 1st round, giving up picks 11 and 32 for picks 20, 24 and 29? Was the point of that trade really to get Brodeur at 20, or was he simply getting another 2nd and got lucky?
And he traded Tom Kurvers at the beginning of the 89-90 season for a 1991 1st, which is what ended up being Neidermeyer. Was the point of the trade to get the 3rd OA pick in 1991, or did he again, get kind of lucky with that?
And he got Stevens because the Blues wanted to sign Shanahan to a big RFA contract, which meant NJ needed to be compensated, which ended up going to an arbitrator, who ultimately awarded them Stevens (instead of St Louis's offer of CuJo, Rob Brind'Amour, and 2 conditional picks). One more time, was the intention of not paying Shanahan more to get Stevens, or did he just kind of get lucky with that?
Jerzey Devil
Jerzey-Duz-It
As an older Devils fan I love the guy. I hope they build a statue of him outside The Rock one day. He’s responsible for bringing 3 cups to NJ and it could have been more. That being said towards the end of his tenure with NJ was very frustrating.
Lou is a win now GM. Any thoughts of rebuilding and you better bring in someone different. He made moves that set the franchise back years.
I’m honestly hoping that if the Isles move on from Lou the Devils find a spot for him in some capacity. No decision making just an advisory role somewhere.
Lou is a win now GM. Any thoughts of rebuilding and you better bring in someone different. He made moves that set the franchise back years.
I’m honestly hoping that if the Isles move on from Lou the Devils find a spot for him in some capacity. No decision making just an advisory role somewhere.
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Beukeboom Fan
Registered User
I think that people forget what a laughing stock the Islanders were for such a long time. I know it's bleak right now - but bringing them back to respectability alone was a hell of an accomplishment.
Luigi Lemieux
Registered User
- Sep 26, 2003
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TheBeerNerd
Registered User
Nah I'm good with keeping him away from the front office. But he's a shoo-in for the Ring of Honor and people will show up for that ceremony.
