Is Lane Lambert Really a “New Voice” for the Islanders?
After general manager Lou Lamoriello emphasized that the Islanders needed a “new voice” when he fired Barry Trotz, he shifted his tone slightly when he promoted Lane Lambert.
“Maybe it wasn’t the right phrase that I should have used, but it is a new voice in the position that Lane is now in,” Lamoriello said during his press conference Monday. “I would say a big new voice in that, because we’re talking about two totally different personalities with reference to Barry and Lane.”
So besides listening to a new person in the locker room, what’s really going to change?
The Islanders were 2-1-0 when Lambert filled in for Trotz in January, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. They rallied to defeat an Oilers team struggling to play consistent hockey. Then they beat the COVID-19-battered New Jersey Devils before the Washington Capitals shut them out on home ice.
At a point when Oliver Wahlstrom was one of the Isles’ best point producers, he only played 13:24 against the Devils. However, he got 16:42 against the Capitals. It was nearly a minute more than Josh Bailey, who infamously passed up an open net that day.
Wahlstrom was in COVID-19 protocol and didn’t play against the Oilers. He had no points and was a -2 in those two games.
Barzal also wasn’t overly effective either. He had the game-winner against the Devils and an assist against the Oilers, but they could’ve used some offense against the Capitals. It was a crucial game that might’ve inspired a playoff push had the Islanders won. Even under a new voice — albeit temporary — the team fell flat.
It’s not fair to judge Lambert using such a small sample size. However, that’s the only NHL coaching experience he has. There will be a lot of understandable speculation. This team — and its fans — have playoff aspirations. They want someone with a proven track record, and Lambert has almost no experience leading an NHL team. The Islanders didn’t play significantly different than they did under Trotz this season.
So is this really a new voice or a Lamoriello power grab? He’s replacing Trotz with someone with a relatively similar coaching philosophy. Trotz and Lambert have worked side-by-side since 2011. But a rookie head coach like Lambert is someone Lamoriello might be able to coerce more easily than a veteran like Trotz. Is the new voice Lamoriello wanted just his own?
Still, many considered Lambert one of the best associate coaches waiting for a head coaching role. Other teams were considering him for their head coaching vacancies this offseason, particularly the Detroit Red Wings. If Trotz had stayed behind the bench another season, they might’ve lost Lambert to another team.
We heard Matt Martin sing Lambert’s praise after his three-game stint.
“I’m really impressed (by) the way he handled the bench, the way he talks to the team in meetings and between periods,” Martin said Jan. 17. “Very knowledgeable and breaks down the game very well. We’re very lucky to still have him here.”
Islanders fans won’t see Lambert’s full effects on this team until October. Until then, they can only speculate and trust that management knows what it’s doing.
Born and raised on Long Island. Isles fan since 2009. Studying journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.
