Lou Lamoriello Proved His Loyalty at the NHL Trade Deadline
Last week’s trade deadline proved Islanders’ general manager Lou Lamoriello shows incredible loyalty to his players.
That loyalty will help the team long-term, even though the short-term returns don’t seem promising.
The Islanders stood pat, holding onto pending unrestricted free agents Zdeno Chara and Andy Greene. They also re-signed Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise. This came after Lamoriello said Chara and Greene wished to finish the year on Long Island, regardless of how the team played.
Despite the Isles’ incredibly thin prospect pool, those commitments to players are more valuable than mid/late-round draft picks.
I’ve heard mixed reactions to Lamoriello’s decision, some in agreement and others not. Some fans noted correctly that subtracting the UFAs will help the team tank for a better draft pick. But is that what other players — including pending free agents — want to see? Why would a veteran player sign a short-term contract on Long Island knowing that if they underperform they could be uprooted? Lamoriello sees players as people first, not as assets.
Tanking doesn’t help the fanbase either. A winning team sells tickets, and the Islanders have struggled to sell tickets this season. A strong end to the season could re-inspire season ticket holders to renew. Lamoriello said he believes in this roster and wants to give his players a chance to make up for early-season misfortunes. Many post-game interviews this past month featured players touting the pride in the Islanders’ locker room. Having a GM that believes in them could inspire a turnaround next season.
Players around the league see Lamoriello’s loyalty. The Islanders need to add talent this summer, and players will want to play for a general manager that takes care of them. As the league learned last week, there are general managers who will trade a player mid-season during a playoff push because of the price tag beside his name.
I’m referring to the Evgenii Dadonov situation. The Vegas Golden Knights attempted to trade him and his $5 million salary cap hit to the Anaheim Ducks without checking his no-trade clause. The league stepped in and nullified the trade. I’m willing to bet Lamoriello would never end up in that situation.
The Islanders have disappointed this season. Lamoriello admitted that both in his post-deadline press conference and town hall on Sunday. Still, he believes in this roster. If March is any indication, he might be right. Still, other GMs will have to agree with however Lamoriello evaluates his team in order to make any trades this offseason.
Although Lamoriello didn’t acquire any players or draft picks, he showed his players and the entire league the culture of the New York Islanders. It’s one he and the Isles’ management could be proud of considering everything else that’s gone wrong.
Born and raised on Long Island. Isles fan since 2009. Studying journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.
