Report: Lou Lamoriello will run Islanders hockey operations

Lou Lamoriello will indeed run hockey operations for the New York Islanders, according to a report citing multiple sources by Arthur Staple for The Athletic.

“Where this leaves Snow, the Isles GM for the previous 12 seasons, is unclear,” Staple wrote in a report published Monday afternoon.

It’s a development that has long been in the rumor mill, the speculation wagon, and on the logical-deduction wheel among national media, local media and fans, but Staple’s is the first report to say, “Yes, this is happening.”

Also among the time-delayed bombshell is that Lamoriello has reportedly already been in contact with pending free agent, captain and franchise cornerstone John Tavares, even though Lamoriello has not officially (or at least not publicly announced) departed his advisory role with the Maple Leafs. [Insert your “is it tampering if it’s contact in a role for the player’s current team?” joke here.]

Lamoriello’s son, Chris, already works for the Isles as assistant GM.

How these roles will all sort out — and whether Lamoriello, master of Devils championships past — is an ideal fit for the current NHL is to be seen. Probably Nick Leddy’s beard has to go, if Lou is really boss. Because facial hair standards are important.

More to come as national media descend on the story they’ve been dying to get more of, from an organization and a (incoming) manager who are notoriously loathe to reveal news about anything of substance.