Islanders News: Lamoriello-Trotz era begins on NHL Draft Day

I’m not someone who lives for opportunities to rip Garth Snow or Doug Weight (or to be honest, Mike Milbury or Don Maloney before them), nor am I a person who ever looks at his sports teams with much optimism. As a sports fan I’m used to disappointment and low expectations, and I see the architects of that disappointment as people who mean better but don’t know how to deliver it.

Given all that, however, even I am a little excited about next season now that both Lou Lamoriello and Barry Trotz are in the fold. Both have had their flaws in the NHL, but they’ve also accomplished a hell of a lot more than anyone in a similar position with the Islanders since Arbour and Torrey.

With Barzal emerging and Tavares (hopefully) still able to offer near-peak production, it’s nice to have them, finally, working under two guys who have a clear idea of what they hope to do.

We’ll have a classic Islanders Anxiety podcast up this morning, then a draft preview.

Islanders Reading

• Perhaps you heard, Lou landed his man. Like, in three days. Barry Trotz is the Islanders coach, and hopefully another lure for Tavares. [LHH | Islanders | Newsday | Athletic | Post]
• Trotz said he wants the team to be fast, organized and defensively responsible. Lou was a big draw. [LHH | Isles conference call audio]
• Next season the Islanders will play even more games, eight more, at Nassau Coliseum than previously announced. [Gov. Cuomo | Newsday | LHH] That’s part of the full schedule announcement for 2018-19. [Isles] But no derby games at the Coliseum next year. [Newsday]
• If you look at every coach in Islanders history, Trotz...fits in pretty highly. [LHH]
• Trotz and Kenny Albert used to be roommates. [Newsday]
• Does all this influence Tavares to stay? Dan updates the Encyclopedia. [LHH]
• The draft begins tonight. The beginning of Lou’s chance to remake the roster. [Newsday]
• Speaking of which, here are five kids the Isles could draft around 11 and 12. [Newsday]
• A look back at how the Trotz relationship with the Capitals got to a point where he could walk away. [NoVa Caps]

Elsewhere

• Really well done, this: How other GMs would salute the Stanley Cup champion Capitals. [Japers’ Rink]
• Also really well done: An overview of the NHL draft and how it evolved to what it is today. [Defending Big D]
• From the awards: Taylor Hall’s MVP award was validation for him, another black mark on the Oilers. [TSN]
• Look out, Oilers fans! They are willing to deal the 10th overall pick for defense. [NBC Sports]
• Fun idea here: Western scout describes Brady Tkachuk, then Brady, his brother Matt and an ESPN draft guy respond to the scout. [ESPN]
• Don’t know what any of this says or means but it sounds pretty smart and insightful about evaluating and comparing scorers. [Hockey-Graphs]