The New York Islanders shocked the hockey world on May 9 by firing head coach Barry Trotz.

Despite making the playoffs three times under his watch, general manager Lou Lamoriello said it was time for a new voice to take over behind the bench. As a result, the team appointed associate coach Lane Lambert to be their new head coach.

Still, there’s a lot of uncertainty for both the Islanders and Trotz. Is Lambert really a “new voice” if the majority of his time behind an NHL bench was with Trotz? Also, where will Trotz end up?

New Voice?

Lambert had followed Trotz throughout his coaching career, and it was odd to see the team look from within to find their answer at head coach. However, in Lambert’s introductory press conference, Lamoriello showed confidence that Lambert is indeed a new voice for the team.

“There is without question a new voice,” Lamoriello said. “That new voice is here with Lane, and certainly, Lane has different thoughts on different things.”

Lambert can keep parts of Trotz’s structure-based game while adding his own flair to it to keep it fresh. Lamoriello said he liked what he saw from Lambert during his brief stint as interim head coach last season.

“When he got the opportunity or was put in that role, he had no questions in his mind as far as his decision-making, no insecurities in the conversations I had with him, and the homework he did prior to making some of the decisions that were put upon him,” Lamoriello said.

Also, Islanders’ captain Anders Lee had high praise for his new coach.

“It’s a great feeling coming in as coach,” Lee said in an interview with NHL radio network. “Not only does he do the things on the ice, but his off-ice leadership is invaluable as well. It’s a good situation knowing that’s the guy we deal with every day.”

Lamoriello understands what Lambert can do when given the reigns to a team, and Lee voices confidence in how he can lead the team. Perhaps he does bring a different voice to the Isles’ locker room.

Trotz’s Market

Trotz is a former coach of the year. As soon he hit the market, it was clear there were going to be a share of teams pining for his services. Multiple sources have confirmed teams in the running for him, such as the Winnipeg Jets and Philadelphia Flyers, both of which have conducted interviews with him.

Also, a report by Nick Kypreos states that as many as seven teams are in the running for him, and his new contract could earn him $6 million per year. Nothing is close with Trotz at this point and there is much uncertainty in his situation, but it will be a heated race to acquire his services. However, a lot of these teams have interesting situations for a fit.

The Jets may hold an advantage due to them being Trotz’s hometown team. However, the Jets are also a team looking to build a defensive structure around Vezina Trophy-winner Connor Hellebuyck, so the Jets could pay up for Trotz’s style of play.

Also, the Dallas Stars may be looking to continue the style of play they built under Rick Bowness before his departure. Dallas boasted a sound defensive structure that can be hard to crack, and Trotz can maintain that identity while potentially keeping it fresh as well.

Add teams like the Vegas Golden Knights who are looking for the piece to get over the hump, the Philadelphia Flyers who are looking for organizational stability after years of turmoil and the Detroit Red Wings looking to further their rebuild, and Trotz can be a big jolt to any team’s locker room.

Organizational Uncertainty

Prior to the end of the season, Lamoriello teased that several possible changes could occur to the organization.

“We’re not going to get better by just adding players,” he said after the trade deadline. “We’re going to get better by making hockey trades.”

That means players like Josh Bailey and Semyon Varlamov could be on the move this summer. There were trade rumors surrounding them before the trade deadline, so the team could revisit moving them this summer. However, this offseason will be all in Lou’s hands from here, as Lamoriello looks to put Lambert and the Islanders in a position to contend following the Barry Trotz firing.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.