If Eric Cairns comes out of this overhaul untouched I’ll be shocked.
- kindlyrick

I like everything Kenny Morrow did for the Islanders, but he needs to go as well.

I like everything Kenny Morrow did for the Islanders, but he needs to go as well.
- ses111

Ideally everyone gets evaluated and re hired if warranted. But, everyone should meet with new president GM to see if they’re qualified. I’d pay top dollar to see Eric Cairns go over his resume and why he’s director of player development, or Chris Lam to discuss his record as daddy’s assistant GM.

I'm hoping the new GM gets hired before mid-May with the draft in June. I think it would not be a bad idea to evaluate Patrick and Desrosiers for a year. I'm fine if the new GM wants his own coach. I'm thinking it will take a while for scouting changes.
- ses111

It's going to be a lot for sure.

Very curious to see what happens with the roster. They'll have zero attachment to the long-term guys who've been here for their entire careers. I love Lee but if they can move him for a good return it might make sense, it seems unlikely he will replicate this season and selling high might be a good idea.

Ideally everyone gets evaluated and re hired if warranted. But, everyone should meet with new president GM to see if they’re qualified. I’d pay top dollar to see Eric Cairns go over his resume and why he’s director of player development, or Chris Lam to discuss his record as daddy’s assistant GM.
- kindlyrick

I'd be absolutely floored if Chris Lamoriello keeps his job

Unrelated to your post, but Bruins ownership is doing a press conference now and it looks like Don Sweeney is staying put, so cross him off the list of potential executives.

It's going to be a lot for sure.

Very curious to see what happens with the roster. They'll have zero attachment to the long-term guys who've been here for their entire careers. I love Lee but if they can move him for a good return it might make sense, it seems unlikely he will replicate this season and selling high might be a good idea.
- Gabe Athaus

Add to that any negotiations Lou was having i.e Palmieri. Now what? I’d imagine all negotiations were put on hold.

It's going to be a lot for sure.

Very curious to see what happens with the roster. They'll have zero attachment to the long-term guys who've been here for their entire careers. I love Lee but if they can move him for a good return it might make sense, it seems unlikely he will replicate this season and selling high might be a good idea.
- Gabe Athaus

I think Lee and JGP should be moved this offseason. Hopefully others can be moved. I'm fine if the team has to sign a couple of UFA's to one year deals this offseason to buy time for the young players. Will be a good test for the new GM to see if he can fine hidden gems.

I'd be absolutely floored if Chris Lamoriello keeps his job

Unrelated to your post, but Bruins ownership is doing a press conference now and it looks like Don Sweeney is staying put, so cross him off the list of potential executives.
- Gabe Athaus

I think the isles went the route of veteran HOF president/GM. I’d like to see them find the needle in the haystack. I believe that person is an AGM who’s been responsible for drafting and personnel in winning organization

Add to that any negotiations Lou was having i.e Palmieri. Now what? I’d imagine all negotiations were put on hold.
- kindlyrick

Has to be the case. All the incumbent players that need contracts are going to be sitting around twiddling their thumbs and stressing until they can sit down and talk with the new front office. Palmieri, Holmstrom, Tsyplakov Gatcomb, Dobson, Romanov, DeAngelo, and Boqvist all need deals. I'd assume Fasching is a goner. Martin is definitely done.

Has to be the case. All the incumbent players that need contracts are going to be sitting around twiddling their thumbs and stressing until they can sit down and talk with the new front office. Palmieri, Holmstrom, Tsyplakov Gatcomb, Dobson, Romanov, DeAngelo, and Boqvist all need deals. I'd assume Fasching is a goner. Martin is definitely done.
- Gabe Athaus

I love the idea of a new GM not having loyalty to this roster. I want a GM ready to make moves and using the summer for more than going to the beach.

Staple Athletic article about some of the names that could possibly be on the Islanders list:

Islanders president and general manager candidates: Who could replace Lou Lamoriello?

New York Islanders principal owner Scott Malkin and co-owners Jon Ledecky and John Collins made an aggressive move on Tuesday, pulling the plug on Lou Lamoriello’s tenure as president and general manager after seven years.

There was more sadness than shock around the league at the news — Lamoriello is 82, after all, so he wasn’t going to do this forever. But he’s still incredibly sharp, and he’s had a meaningful interaction with just about every current and recent GM in the league. There are at least 25 or so GMs who can tell the same story: They get their first GM job with an NHL team. Their phone rings. It’s Lamoriello, offering up a chance to have coffee or lunch to discuss his methods over the decades doing the job.

It can’t have been easy for Malkin, the principal decision-maker for the Islanders, to move on from Lamoriello. But it was wise to do it quickly and quietly — Lamoriello conducted exit meetings with Islanders players on Monday — because the Islanders have major business to conduct this offseason and they will get a head start on any other team in the league that might be searching for a new top executive or two.

Collins, who was the NHL’s chief operations officer and knows the league well, will spearhead the Isles’ search. It’s not likely to be quick, given how Islanders ownership has to proceed once they make their choice. Lamoriello’s Isles front office was quite small and he kept many of Garth Snow’s scouts and development staff in place, so the new president and GM will be conducting a thorough assessment of the organization while also trying to put a competitive roster on the ice.

The president and GM could also very well be two different people. Malkin and Co. inherited Snow, who held both titles; Malkin gave Lamoriello full control over hockey operations and essentially business operations as well, as Lamoriello had to approve any marketing involving Islanders players. The owners may prefer not to give total control to a combination president/GM once again and make this more of a collective front office.

A league source indicated weeks ago that Malkin, who lives in London, was committed to being more involved with business operation decisions and charting a new path forward to promote the Islanders’ brand. Now, Malkin, Ledecky and Collins will be charting a new path for the hockey team. It’s a huge moment for the franchise.

Here are 16 candidates of varying degrees of experience who could fit what the Islanders are looking for.

Pat Brisson
The super-agent who leads CAA and represents Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, John Tavares, Nathan MacKinnon, the Hughes brothers and about 100 other NHLers has been wooed before to leave the agent side and jump to the team side — most notably by Malkin eight years ago when the Islanders were doing everything they could to keep Tavares.

Brisson didn’t become the Islanders’ president of hockey operations then, and we know what happened with Tavares. But Malkin and Brisson have remained in contact and, with an opening at the top once more, Brisson might be more tempted now. Pretty sure this wouldn’t mean Tavares, a pending UFA in Toronto, would be making a return to the Island, but Brisson’s legion of clients could make the Islanders a more attractive free-agent destination than they’ve ever been.

Marc Bergevin
One of Brisson’s closest friends in hockey happens to be Bergevin, who has been an advisor for the Kings the last three seasons after a decade as Canadiens GM. Bergevin has been very visible around league arenas this season, perhaps in preparation for a return to a GM job. It makes some sense that Bergevin could do so with Brisson as his president and jump into a team in need of a steady, veteran hand to make the necessary moves and evaluations this offseason.

The Islanders wouldn’t have to wait long into the offseason to jump at Bergevin either, since he’s not under contract anywhere.

Jeff Gorton
If Malkin were to pick a veteran executive who’s performed every front-office role there is, the former Rangers GM and current Canadiens executive VP of hockey operations would be the top choice. It’s possible that Gorton, who is part of a tandem front office in Montreal with GM Kent Hughes, would like both titles, and only the Islanders could offer that at the moment.

The hold-up would be whether Canadiens owner Geoff Molson would allow Gorton to leave. Nothing’s assured on that front. But Gorton’s work with the Rangers and now Montreal, two teams he helped guide back to respectability after a few lean years, has been noticed.

Jarmo Kekäläinen
Like Bergevin, Kekäläinen is an experienced GM who is currently a free agent. Kekäläinen spent 11 years as the Blue Jackets’ GM, with some hits and plenty of misses, too. But his experience in a smaller-market team that didn’t always spend freely might be appealing to the Islanders, who are not looking to continue being a spendthrift cap team unless the situation warrants it.

George McPhee
If the goal is to hire a president first, Malkin may look to another familiar face. In Malkin and Ledecky’s first two seasons as minority partners with Charles Wang, they saw McPhee up close when he worked as an advisor to Snow between GM jobs with the Capitals and the expansion Golden Knights. They were impressed, by all accounts, and especially by McPhee’s stewardship in Vegas before moving upstairs to make room for first-time GM Kelly McCrimmon. McPhee’s 30-plus years in NHL front offices would allow the Islanders to go for interesting GM candidates who don’t have much experience.

Doug Armstrong
He’s been an NHL GM for over 20 years with the Stars and now the Blues, though he’s already planning to step aside for Alexander Steen after next season. Armstrong is a fiery leader and he’s aggressive. He’d also likely not be interested in splitting the president/GM jobs, so Malkin would have to turn over the keys to Armstrong to make this one work.

Brendan Shanahan
He’s currently employed by the Leafs as team president and, if Toronto manages to get past the second round for the first time since 2002, it’s unlikely Shanahan would be available. If he is, though, Shanahan has certainly been involved with a big franchise and has worked alongside Collins at the NHL.

He’s like McPhee, a veteran executive who could evaluate the front office while leaving the day-to-day GM work to another, younger person. He certainly got the league talking when he hired Kyle Dubas in Toronto to replace Lamoriello in 2017.

Ken Holland
One more for the team president file. Holland spent 22 years as GM of the Red Wings, winning three Stanley Cups, then five years with the Oilers before being let go there after last season. He’s 13 years younger than Lamoriello but has a similar resume; if he’s looking to oversee a front office rather than do all the jobs, he might have a chance here.

Ron Francis
Francis just got kicked upstairs in Seattle, where he’d been the inaugural GM after a long run in Carolina. The Kraken didn’t enjoy the same expansion success as McPhee’s Golden Knights, and Francis might not be content to do just one of the two jobs the Islanders have. It’s unlikely Malkin would turn the dual-role reins over to Francis, whose track record hasn’t been strong of late.

Kevin Weekes
The one-time Islanders goaltender and current analyst for ESPN has long wanted to break into the front-office side. He’d be an intriguing choice for team president; even with a lack of managerial experience, he knows everyone and has some clear ideas on how he’d operate. Paired with an experienced GM, he might be a fit.

Wayne Gretzky
When Malkin and Ledecky first took over the team in 2016, Ledecky talked to numerous hockey luminaries about how to proceed with the Islanders. Gretzky was one. Would The Great One be interested in becoming a team president? Would that really work? Who knows!

Neil Smith
He was an Islanders GM for a hot minute back before Snow, but the architect of the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup might still be interested in working for a team after many years away. If you think you’ve seen him at an Islanders game recently, you have — he’s there just about every night working for UBS. Certainly has the experience part down and has run teams before, so a long-shot team president option.

Don Sweeney
He’s still the Bruins’ GM, but that might not impede finding a new spot, especially with the Bruins having undergone the kind of trade deadline sell-off in March that many Islanders fans wanted Lamoriello to commit to. Sweeney has had some ups and downs in a decade as Bruins GM — Islanders fans will surely recall his first draft, when he passed on Mat Barzal three straight picks — and if Malkin wants someone with very recent experience and familiarity with the NHL landscape, Sweeney has both.

Mathieu Darche
The Lightning executive pipeline is a deep one, starting with Steve Yzerman a decade ago and now on to Julien BriseBois. Darche is one of BriseBois’ top assistants and is starting to become a regular name on the “shouldn’t this guy be a GM soon?” rotation. He’ll get some interviews if there are openings this cycle.

Brandon Pridham
Another AGM who might be getting some interest when jobs open up. He’s worked for the Leafs for a decade through three different GMs. With an experienced president, he could be of interest.



Jason Spezza
A buzzy first-time GM candidate, the former Senators star player rose through the ranks alongside Dubas in Toronto and now with the Penguins. He will surely be a GM in the coming years, it’s just a matter of where. If one of the big-name candidates for president pans out, the Islanders could take a chance on a first-time GM. Spezza is one of the more intriguing options there.

Vukie Mpofu
In the same way Shanahan plucked Dubas from relative obscurity to become first a Leafs AGM at 29 and then GM at 33, the 29-year-old Mpofu has future GM written all over him. Currently, he works for Dubas as the Penguins’ director of hockey operations and legal affairs. GM would be a huge leap, but an experienced team president could take a flier and have Mpofu grow into the job.

Staple Athletic article about some of the names that could possibly be on the Islanders list:

Islanders president and general manager candidates: Who could replace Lou Lamoriello?

New York Islanders principal owner Scott Malkin and co-owners Jon Ledecky and John Collins made an aggressive move on Tuesday, pulling the plug on Lou Lamoriello’s tenure as president and general manager after seven years.

There was more sadness than shock around the league at the news — Lamoriello is 82, after all, so he wasn’t going to do this forever. But he’s still incredibly sharp, and he’s had a meaningful interaction with just about every current and recent GM in the league. There are at least 25 or so GMs who can tell the same story: They get their first GM job with an NHL team. Their phone rings. It’s Lamoriello, offering up a chance to have coffee or lunch to discuss his methods over the decades doing the job.

It can’t have been easy for Malkin, the principal decision-maker for the Islanders, to move on from Lamoriello. But it was wise to do it quickly and quietly — Lamoriello conducted exit meetings with Islanders players on Monday — because the Islanders have major business to conduct this offseason and they will get a head start on any other team in the league that might be searching for a new top executive or two.

Collins, who was the NHL’s chief operations officer and knows the league well, will spearhead the Isles’ search. It’s not likely to be quick, given how Islanders ownership has to proceed once they make their choice. Lamoriello’s Isles front office was quite small and he kept many of Garth Snow’s scouts and development staff in place, so the new president and GM will be conducting a thorough assessment of the organization while also trying to put a competitive roster on the ice.

The president and GM could also very well be two different people. Malkin and Co. inherited Snow, who held both titles; Malkin gave Lamoriello full control over hockey operations and essentially business operations as well, as Lamoriello had to approve any marketing involving Islanders players. The owners may prefer not to give total control to a combination president/GM once again and make this more of a collective front office.

A league source indicated weeks ago that Malkin, who lives in London, was committed to being more involved with business operation decisions and charting a new path forward to promote the Islanders’ brand. Now, Malkin, Ledecky and Collins will be charting a new path for the hockey team. It’s a huge moment for the franchise.

Here are 16 candidates of varying degrees of experience who could fit what the Islanders are looking for.

Pat Brisson
The super-agent who leads CAA and represents Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, John Tavares, Nathan MacKinnon, the Hughes brothers and about 100 other NHLers has been wooed before to leave the agent side and jump to the team side — most notably by Malkin eight years ago when the Islanders were doing everything they could to keep Tavares.

Brisson didn’t become the Islanders’ president of hockey operations then, and we know what happened with Tavares. But Malkin and Brisson have remained in contact and, with an opening at the top once more, Brisson might be more tempted now. Pretty sure this wouldn’t mean Tavares, a pending UFA in Toronto, would be making a return to the Island, but Brisson’s legion of clients could make the Islanders a more attractive free-agent destination than they’ve ever been.

Marc Bergevin
One of Brisson’s closest friends in hockey happens to be Bergevin, who has been an advisor for the Kings the last three seasons after a decade as Canadiens GM. Bergevin has been very visible around league arenas this season, perhaps in preparation for a return to a GM job. It makes some sense that Bergevin could do so with Brisson as his president and jump into a team in need of a steady, veteran hand to make the necessary moves and evaluations this offseason.

The Islanders wouldn’t have to wait long into the offseason to jump at Bergevin either, since he’s not under contract anywhere.

Jeff Gorton
If Malkin were to pick a veteran executive who’s performed every front-office role there is, the former Rangers GM and current Canadiens executive VP of hockey operations would be the top choice. It’s possible that Gorton, who is part of a tandem front office in Montreal with GM Kent Hughes, would like both titles, and only the Islanders could offer that at the moment.

The hold-up would be whether Canadiens owner Geoff Molson would allow Gorton to leave. Nothing’s assured on that front. But Gorton’s work with the Rangers and now Montreal, two teams he helped guide back to respectability after a few lean years, has been noticed.

Jarmo Kekäläinen
Like Bergevin, Kekäläinen is an experienced GM who is currently a free agent. Kekäläinen spent 11 years as the Blue Jackets’ GM, with some hits and plenty of misses, too. But his experience in a smaller-market team that didn’t always spend freely might be appealing to the Islanders, who are not looking to continue being a spendthrift cap team unless the situation warrants it.

George McPhee
If the goal is to hire a president first, Malkin may look to another familiar face. In Malkin and Ledecky’s first two seasons as minority partners with Charles Wang, they saw McPhee up close when he worked as an advisor to Snow between GM jobs with the Capitals and the expansion Golden Knights. They were impressed, by all accounts, and especially by McPhee’s stewardship in Vegas before moving upstairs to make room for first-time GM Kelly McCrimmon. McPhee’s 30-plus years in NHL front offices would allow the Islanders to go for interesting GM candidates who don’t have much experience.

Doug Armstrong
He’s been an NHL GM for over 20 years with the Stars and now the Blues, though he’s already planning to step aside for Alexander Steen after next season. Armstrong is a fiery leader and he’s aggressive. He’d also likely not be interested in splitting the president/GM jobs, so Malkin would have to turn over the keys to Armstrong to make this one work.

Brendan Shanahan
He’s currently employed by the Leafs as team president and, if Toronto manages to get past the second round for the first time since 2002, it’s unlikely Shanahan would be available. If he is, though, Shanahan has certainly been involved with a big franchise and has worked alongside Collins at the NHL.

He’s like McPhee, a veteran executive who could evaluate the front office while leaving the day-to-day GM work to another, younger person. He certainly got the league talking when he hired Kyle Dubas in Toronto to replace Lamoriello in 2017.

Ken Holland
One more for the team president file. Holland spent 22 years as GM of the Red Wings, winning three Stanley Cups, then five years with the Oilers before being let go there after last season. He’s 13 years younger than Lamoriello but has a similar resume; if he’s looking to oversee a front office rather than do all the jobs, he might have a chance here.

Ron Francis
Francis just got kicked upstairs in Seattle, where he’d been the inaugural GM after a long run in Carolina. The Kraken didn’t enjoy the same expansion success as McPhee’s Golden Knights, and Francis might not be content to do just one of the two jobs the Islanders have. It’s unlikely Malkin would turn the dual-role reins over to Francis, whose track record hasn’t been strong of late.

Kevin Weekes
The one-time Islanders goaltender and current analyst for ESPN has long wanted to break into the front-office side. He’d be an intriguing choice for team president; even with a lack of managerial experience, he knows everyone and has some clear ideas on how he’d operate. Paired with an experienced GM, he might be a fit.

Wayne Gretzky
When Malkin and Ledecky first took over the team in 2016, Ledecky talked to numerous hockey luminaries about how to proceed with the Islanders. Gretzky was one. Would The Great One be interested in becoming a team president? Would that really work? Who knows!

Neil Smith
He was an Islanders GM for a hot minute back before Snow, but the architect of the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup might still be interested in working for a team after many years away. If you think you’ve seen him at an Islanders game recently, you have — he’s there just about every night working for UBS. Certainly has the experience part down and has run teams before, so a long-shot team president option.

Don Sweeney
He’s still the Bruins’ GM, but that might not impede finding a new spot, especially with the Bruins having undergone the kind of trade deadline sell-off in March that many Islanders fans wanted Lamoriello to commit to. Sweeney has had some ups and downs in a decade as Bruins GM — Islanders fans will surely recall his first draft, when he passed on Mat Barzal three straight picks — and if Malkin wants someone with very recent experience and familiarity with the NHL landscape, Sweeney has both.

Mathieu Darche
The Lightning executive pipeline is a deep one, starting with Steve Yzerman a decade ago and now on to Julien BriseBois. Darche is one of BriseBois’ top assistants and is starting to become a regular name on the “shouldn’t this guy be a GM soon?” rotation. He’ll get some interviews if there are openings this cycle.

Brandon Pridham
Another AGM who might be getting some interest when jobs open up. He’s worked for the Leafs for a decade through three different GMs. With an experienced president, he could be of interest.



Jason Spezza
A buzzy first-time GM candidate, the former Senators star player rose through the ranks alongside Dubas in Toronto and now with the Penguins. He will surely be a GM in the coming years, it’s just a matter of where. If one of the big-name candidates for president pans out, the Islanders could take a chance on a first-time GM. Spezza is one of the more intriguing options there.

Vukie Mpofu
In the same way Shanahan plucked Dubas from relative obscurity to become first a Leafs AGM at 29 and then GM at 33, the 29-year-old Mpofu has future GM written all over him. Currently, he works for Dubas as the Penguins’ director of hockey operations and legal affairs. GM would be a huge leap, but an experienced team president could take a flier and have Mpofu grow into the job.
- Gabe Athaus

Darche and Pridham should be looked at but I have to say the idea of Brisson as president and Bergevin as GM is intriguing to me. Brisson having ties to many top NHLers could help the isles FINALLY lure top talent and field a legit NHL first line.

Gorton is intriguing as well.

Staple Athletic article about some of the names that could possibly be on the Islanders list:

Islanders president and general manager candidates: Who could replace Lou Lamoriello?

New York Islanders principal owner Scott Malkin and co-owners Jon Ledecky and John Collins made an aggressive move on Tuesday, pulling the plug on Lou Lamoriello’s tenure as president and general manager after seven years.

There was more sadness than shock around the league at the news — Lamoriello is 82, after all, so he wasn’t going to do this forever. But he’s still incredibly sharp, and he’s had a meaningful interaction with just about every current and recent GM in the league. There are at least 25 or so GMs who can tell the same story: They get their first GM job with an NHL team. Their phone rings. It’s Lamoriello, offering up a chance to have coffee or lunch to discuss his methods over the decades doing the job.

It can’t have been easy for Malkin, the principal decision-maker for the Islanders, to move on from Lamoriello. But it was wise to do it quickly and quietly — Lamoriello conducted exit meetings with Islanders players on Monday — because the Islanders have major business to conduct this offseason and they will get a head start on any other team in the league that might be searching for a new top executive or two.

Collins, who was the NHL’s chief operations officer and knows the league well, will spearhead the Isles’ search. It’s not likely to be quick, given how Islanders ownership has to proceed once they make their choice. Lamoriello’s Isles front office was quite small and he kept many of Garth Snow’s scouts and development staff in place, so the new president and GM will be conducting a thorough assessment of the organization while also trying to put a competitive roster on the ice.

The president and GM could also very well be two different people. Malkin and Co. inherited Snow, who held both titles; Malkin gave Lamoriello full control over hockey operations and essentially business operations as well, as Lamoriello had to approve any marketing involving Islanders players. The owners may prefer not to give total control to a combination president/GM once again and make this more of a collective front office.

A league source indicated weeks ago that Malkin, who lives in London, was committed to being more involved with business operation decisions and charting a new path forward to promote the Islanders’ brand. Now, Malkin, Ledecky and Collins will be charting a new path for the hockey team. It’s a huge moment for the franchise.

Here are 16 candidates of varying degrees of experience who could fit what the Islanders are looking for.

Pat Brisson
The super-agent who leads CAA and represents Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, John Tavares, Nathan MacKinnon, the Hughes brothers and about 100 other NHLers has been wooed before to leave the agent side and jump to the team side — most notably by Malkin eight years ago when the Islanders were doing everything they could to keep Tavares.

Brisson didn’t become the Islanders’ president of hockey operations then, and we know what happened with Tavares. But Malkin and Brisson have remained in contact and, with an opening at the top once more, Brisson might be more tempted now. Pretty sure this wouldn’t mean Tavares, a pending UFA in Toronto, would be making a return to the Island, but Brisson’s legion of clients could make the Islanders a more attractive free-agent destination than they’ve ever been.

Marc Bergevin
One of Brisson’s closest friends in hockey happens to be Bergevin, who has been an advisor for the Kings the last three seasons after a decade as Canadiens GM. Bergevin has been very visible around league arenas this season, perhaps in preparation for a return to a GM job. It makes some sense that Bergevin could do so with Brisson as his president and jump into a team in need of a steady, veteran hand to make the necessary moves and evaluations this offseason.

The Islanders wouldn’t have to wait long into the offseason to jump at Bergevin either, since he’s not under contract anywhere.

Jeff Gorton
If Malkin were to pick a veteran executive who’s performed every front-office role there is, the former Rangers GM and current Canadiens executive VP of hockey operations would be the top choice. It’s possible that Gorton, who is part of a tandem front office in Montreal with GM Kent Hughes, would like both titles, and only the Islanders could offer that at the moment.

The hold-up would be whether Canadiens owner Geoff Molson would allow Gorton to leave. Nothing’s assured on that front. But Gorton’s work with the Rangers and now Montreal, two teams he helped guide back to respectability after a few lean years, has been noticed.

Jarmo Kekäläinen
Like Bergevin, Kekäläinen is an experienced GM who is currently a free agent. Kekäläinen spent 11 years as the Blue Jackets’ GM, with some hits and plenty of misses, too. But his experience in a smaller-market team that didn’t always spend freely might be appealing to the Islanders, who are not looking to continue being a spendthrift cap team unless the situation warrants it.

George McPhee
If the goal is to hire a president first, Malkin may look to another familiar face. In Malkin and Ledecky’s first two seasons as minority partners with Charles Wang, they saw McPhee up close when he worked as an advisor to Snow between GM jobs with the Capitals and the expansion Golden Knights. They were impressed, by all accounts, and especially by McPhee’s stewardship in Vegas before moving upstairs to make room for first-time GM Kelly McCrimmon. McPhee’s 30-plus years in NHL front offices would allow the Islanders to go for interesting GM candidates who don’t have much experience.

Doug Armstrong
He’s been an NHL GM for over 20 years with the Stars and now the Blues, though he’s already planning to step aside for Alexander Steen after next season. Armstrong is a fiery leader and he’s aggressive. He’d also likely not be interested in splitting the president/GM jobs, so Malkin would have to turn over the keys to Armstrong to make this one work.

Brendan Shanahan
He’s currently employed by the Leafs as team president and, if Toronto manages to get past the second round for the first time since 2002, it’s unlikely Shanahan would be available. If he is, though, Shanahan has certainly been involved with a big franchise and has worked alongside Collins at the NHL.

He’s like McPhee, a veteran executive who could evaluate the front office while leaving the day-to-day GM work to another, younger person. He certainly got the league talking when he hired Kyle Dubas in Toronto to replace Lamoriello in 2017.

Ken Holland
One more for the team president file. Holland spent 22 years as GM of the Red Wings, winning three Stanley Cups, then five years with the Oilers before being let go there after last season. He’s 13 years younger than Lamoriello but has a similar resume; if he’s looking to oversee a front office rather than do all the jobs, he might have a chance here.

Ron Francis
Francis just got kicked upstairs in Seattle, where he’d been the inaugural GM after a long run in Carolina. The Kraken didn’t enjoy the same expansion success as McPhee’s Golden Knights, and Francis might not be content to do just one of the two jobs the Islanders have. It’s unlikely Malkin would turn the dual-role reins over to Francis, whose track record hasn’t been strong of late.

Kevin Weekes
The one-time Islanders goaltender and current analyst for ESPN has long wanted to break into the front-office side. He’d be an intriguing choice for team president; even with a lack of managerial experience, he knows everyone and has some clear ideas on how he’d operate. Paired with an experienced GM, he might be a fit.

Wayne Gretzky
When Malkin and Ledecky first took over the team in 2016, Ledecky talked to numerous hockey luminaries about how to proceed with the Islanders. Gretzky was one. Would The Great One be interested in becoming a team president? Would that really work? Who knows!

Neil Smith
He was an Islanders GM for a hot minute back before Snow, but the architect of the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup might still be interested in working for a team after many years away. If you think you’ve seen him at an Islanders game recently, you have — he’s there just about every night working for UBS. Certainly has the experience part down and has run teams before, so a long-shot team president option.

Don Sweeney
He’s still the Bruins’ GM, but that might not impede finding a new spot, especially with the Bruins having undergone the kind of trade deadline sell-off in March that many Islanders fans wanted Lamoriello to commit to. Sweeney has had some ups and downs in a decade as Bruins GM — Islanders fans will surely recall his first draft, when he passed on Mat Barzal three straight picks — and if Malkin wants someone with very recent experience and familiarity with the NHL landscape, Sweeney has both.

Mathieu Darche
The Lightning executive pipeline is a deep one, starting with Steve Yzerman a decade ago and now on to Julien BriseBois. Darche is one of BriseBois’ top assistants and is starting to become a regular name on the “shouldn’t this guy be a GM soon?” rotation. He’ll get some interviews if there are openings this cycle.

Brandon Pridham
Another AGM who might be getting some interest when jobs open up. He’s worked for the Leafs for a decade through three different GMs. With an experienced president, he could be of interest.



Jason Spezza
A buzzy first-time GM candidate, the former Senators star player rose through the ranks alongside Dubas in Toronto and now with the Penguins. He will surely be a GM in the coming years, it’s just a matter of where. If one of the big-name candidates for president pans out, the Islanders could take a chance on a first-time GM. Spezza is one of the more intriguing options there.

Vukie Mpofu
In the same way Shanahan plucked Dubas from relative obscurity to become first a Leafs AGM at 29 and then GM at 33, the 29-year-old Mpofu has future GM written all over him. Currently, he works for Dubas as the Penguins’ director of hockey operations and legal affairs. GM would be a huge leap, but an experienced team president could take a flier and have Mpofu grow into the job.
- Gabe Athaus

My man Neil as President would work. He has won with the Rangers so he can handle the spotlight.

Darche and Pridham should be looked at but I have to say the idea of Brisson as president and Bergevin as GM is intriguing to me. Brisson having ties to many top NHLers could help the isles FINALLY lure top talent and field a legit NHL first line.

Gorton is intriguing as well.
- kindlyrick

Going only off that list, which obviously isn't the end-all, be-all...these are probably where I'd place all those guys, going off just my own personal interest:

Very Interested
Pat Brisson (GM)
Jeff Gorton (Either)
Mathieu Darche (GM)
Brandon Pridham (GM)
Jason Spezza (GM)

Somewhat Interested
Marc Bergevin (President)
George McPhee (President)
Doug Armstrong (Either)
Vukie Mpofu (GM, although I know nothing about him)

Some-to-Minimal Interest
Jarmo (Either)
Brendan Shanahan (Either)

No Interest
Ken Holland
Kevin Weekes
Wayne Gretzky
Neil Smith

Not relevent
Don Sweeney - Staying in Boston
Ron Francis - Just promoted in Seattle

Going only off that list, which obviously isn't the end-all, be-all...these are probably where I'd place all those guys, going off just my own personal interest:

Very Interested
Pat Brisson (GM)
Jeff Gorton (Either)
Mathieu Darche (GM)
Brandon Pridham (GM)
Jason Spezza (GM)

Somewhat Interested
Marc (President)
George McPhee (President)
Doug Armstrong (Either)
Vukie Mpofu (GM, although I know nothing about him)

Some-to-Minimal Interest
Jarmo (Either)
Brendan Shanahan (Either)

No Interest
Ken Holland
Kevin Weekes
Wayne Gretzky
Neil Smith

Not relevent
Don Sweeney - Staying in Boston
Ron Francis - Just promoted in Seattle
- Gabe Athaus

Pat Brisson and Jason Spezza would be very interesting. I'm not a fan of Bergevin. I like Neil with his Al and Bill connection and winning with the Rangers, but I cannot see him getting the job. Gretzky as President only may be interesting with no day-to-day GM duties.

Going only off that list, which obviously isn't the end-all, be-all...these are probably where I'd place all those guys, going off just my own personal interest:

Very Interested
Pat Brisson (GM)
Jeff Gorton (Either)
Mathieu Darche (GM)
Brandon Pridham (GM)
Jason Spezza (GM)

Somewhat Interested
Marc Bergevin (President)
George McPhee (President)
Doug Armstrong (Either)
Vukie Mpofu (GM, although I know nothing about him)

Some-to-Minimal Interest
Jarmo (Either)
Brendan Shanahan (Either)

No Interest
Ken Holland
Kevin Weekes
Wayne Gretzky
Neil Smith

Not relevent
Don Sweeney - Staying in Boston
Ron Francis - Just promoted in Seattle
- Gabe Athaus

The good news is it’s happening and the isles have a lot of options with a lot of talent who would love these job openings. Collin’s has NHL experience which is promising. It’s not like Wang and his hockey for dummies anymore. Interesting to note that Lou opted to keep all of snows hockey ops staff basically. Whichever combo is going to create an islander organization who drafts and develops well I’m all for. Whichever combo and lure top UFAs im all for.

Pat Brisson and Jason Spezza would be very interesting. I'm not a fan of Bergevin. I like Neil with his Al and Bill connection and winning with the Rangers, but I cannot see him getting the job. Gretzky as President only may be interesting with no day-to-day GM duties.
- ses111

Gretzky and Weekes do nothing for me as they have zero front office experience whatsoever. Smith hasn't been in the NHL for 20 years, that's a hard pass for me. I don't care about success he had 30+ years ago. We don't need another dinosaur running this team.

The good news is it’s happening and the isles have a lot of options with a lot of talent who would love these job openings. Collin’s has NHL experience which is promising. It’s not like Wang and his hockey for dummies anymore. Interesting to note that Lou opted to keep all of snows hockey ops staff basically. Whichever combo is going to create an islander organization who drafts and develops well I’m all for. Whichever combo and lure top UFAs im all for.
- kindlyrick

Lou kept Garth's scouting and his idea of not doing much in the summer.

Gretzky and Weekes do nothing for me as they have zero front office experience whatsoever. Smith hasn't been in the NHL for 20 years, that's a hard pass for me. I don't care about success he had 30+ years ago. We don't need another dinosaur running this team.
- Gabe Athaus

You dare call Neil a dinosaur?


I love the idea of Neil coming back and making good, but he cannot be a top choice.

The good news is it’s happening and the isles have a lot of options with a lot of talent who would love these job openings. Collin’s has NHL experience which is promising. It’s not like Wang and his hockey for dummies anymore. Interesting to note that Lou opted to keep all of snows hockey ops staff basically. Whichever combo is going to create an islander organization who drafts and develops well I’m all for. Whichever combo and lure top UFAs im all for.
- kindlyrick

Following what happens with the rest of the front office between this offseason and next will be the most interesting thing for me, or tied for the most interesting thing with the roster. Now that I believe ownership is invested in a winning product on the ice I'm willing to give them whatever time they need to make this decision and support it until proven otherwise.

Following what happens with the rest of the front office between this offseason and next will be the most interesting thing for me, or tied for the most interesting thing with the roster. Now that I believe ownership is invested in a winning product on the ice I'm willing to give them whatever time they need to make this decision and support it until proven otherwise.
- Gabe Athaus

That’s exactly right. I’ll tell ya who had a sigh of relief are all those poor ticket sales agents who took more hang ups and angry callers then they signed up for. Haha

From The Athletic:

DENVER — The answer was shorter than the question.

“What do you need to see from your second line?” a reporter asked Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar after Monday night’s game in Dallas.

“I need to see more,” Bednar said matter-of-factly after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.

That No. 2 line of Brock Nelson between Jonathan Drouin and Valeri Nichushkin has yet to fully get going two games into the playoffs.

But at the heart of it, too, is the continued adjustment period for Nelson, the Team USA 4 Nations forward still finding his way after playing the first 12 years of his NHL career with the New York Islanders.

Nelson had six goals and 13 points in 19 regular-season games with the Avs after the March 6 blockbuster trade and hasn’t hit the scoresheet yet in two postseason games.

“I think it’s been a slow build,” Bednar said Sunday when asked about the 33-year-old’s game with Colorado. “I think his game is getting better as the season has gone on. I don’t think he had any problems with the adjustments when it comes to systems or anything like that, or tactical play, I think it’s just chemistry with linemates and finding ways to get more dangerous offensively. What I’ve learned about him is that he’s always in the right spots. He’s got a great skill set, obviously, but he plays with a really good conscience. He doesn’t give up quality scoring chances very often.

“On the defensive side, he’s super responsible, which I love. I still think there’s another step to his offensive game that we can’t see (now) … because you’re in the highest checking part of the season, right?”

Nelson is hardly the first player traded at the deadline who’s needed a bit of time to find his stride in a new environment. It’s been well documented that Mikko Rantanen is still finding his way across the aisle with the Stars. It’s why teams would much rather make these trades as early as possible in the season, but salary cap constraints dictate that most of these transactions always happen closer to the deadline.

Which tightens the adjustment period. One NHL scout from a rival team told The Athletic during Game 2 that he’s not worried about Nelson because he’s too intelligent a player and too talented not to find his game. He pictured Nelson having a couple of huge goals for his new team if the Avs go deep this postseason.

But in the here and now, it’s still an adjustment, especially for a player who spent his whole career with one team. That adjustment is just as much about off the ice, too.

“It’s crazy, for sure,” Nelson told The Athletic on Sunday when asked how he’s dealt with everything after the trade. “First week, it was probably tough — just a lot of emotions processing messages from people beyond the team and the organization in New York. Just people you’ve met over the years in the community via your kids or whatever it may be. We were there for so long, you never really thought of anything else. Then it happens. It’s a bit of a whirlwind. It’s pretty crazy. Obviously, a lot of logistics, still sorting through with family and kids.

“But on the hockey side of it, coming to a team that’s being talked about as a contender for a while now and having recently won, the firepower that they have, seeing that you’re immediately in the mix of that, that’s pretty exciting. Just a lot to process, but hockey-wise it’s been amazing.”

He spoke Sunday a few hours after joining in his young family’s Easter egg hunt over the phone. His wife and four children stayed based in New York, which is the tough part.

“My wife came out right away by herself for a few days, which was great,” Nelson said. “She took another trip with our oldest — our son, who’s 6, so he could check it out. He’s pretty jacked up. He’s a big Avs guy now.

“But the four kids are still in New York. That’s probably the easiest. Three of the kids are in school, so they can still have that structure and routine and keep that status quo for now. It just feels like Dad is on a long road trip. They’ll be coming out next week, which will be great.”

His wife, Karley Sylvester, a former Wisconsin hockey player, has been the MVP of this transition period.

“She’s keeping everyone in line,” Nelson said.

The trade itself was a lot to process. As a pending unrestricted free agent on July 1, Nelson knew it was a strong possibility. But having to tell then-Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello he wasn’t extending with the team, which forced the trade, wasn’t easy.

“It was a crazy process, having never been through that,” Nelson said. “That’s the business side of it. When things were shaking out the way they were … I have a great relationship with Lou. He’s a guy that gave me a great opportunity. I was fortunate to play for him for a while. He’s just a great figure in the game. And beyond the game, he takes tremendous care of his players.

“He took great care of me and my family the years I was there. I was fortunate and grateful for that. I was able to talk to him when it happened, we had a good conversation. I know at some point I’ll bump into him again. No hard feelings.”

Lamoriello, reached over the phone Monday morning, the day before the Islanders fired him, reciprocated those feelings.

“As a human being, you don’t get any better, as far as quality, family, the whole thing — he’s exemplary,” Lamoriello told The Athletic. “His wife is very supportive. She was also a heck of a player. As a player, he’s committed to being the best he can be. He will do anything that is necessary. He’s a team guy. He can play in all situations: power play, short-handed, five-on-five.

“I can’t say enough good things about him, both as a person and as a player. That comes out in him when you talk to him as a person, and it comes out in him when you watch him play. He competes.”

The reality is that Lamoriello wasn’t motivated to trade Nelson. He believed in his team’s chances to the end. ( ) Those were difficult conversations with Nelson’s agent Ben Hankinson.

“It is not something I wanted to do,” Lamoriello said. “We’ll leave it at that.”

But it was certainly something the Avs desperately wanted to get done. Their search for a No. 2 center goes back to losing Nazem Kadri to free agency after the 2022 Stanley Cup championship. Casey Mittelstadt was good last season but struggled in 2024-25, which reignited Avs general manager Chris MacFarland’s search for a 2C. Nelson was long the target, but not until the final week before the deadline was Colorado sure the Islanders would move him.

“Obviously, Brock Nelson was a hard one, I’m sure, for them to trade,” MacFarland told The Athletic last month. “While I’m not privy to what they were trying to do with the player, I’m sure it’s a guy they wanted to bring back, no different than us with Mikko. He’s a homegrown player on your team that’s a good hockey player. … Those are tough ones.

“It was a big price. The Islanders got a first-round pick and a really good player in Calum Ritchie — a guy that we were hard-pressed to give up. But I think for the timing of where we’re at, and our situation (all-in), Brock Nelson was too good to pass up. He’s a big man who skates well and scores, and he’ll touch every part of our team. We felt we needed that.”

There’s no reason to think we won’t see the best version of Nelson as these playoffs roll along. The defensive side is always there. Now, what the Avs need is a little more offense from Nelson.

“He’s an easy player to play with, to be honest,” said Drouin. “He’s a two-way player. You don’t have to worry about him defensively. He’s really good down there.”

How can the new linemates create more chemistry? Communication is part of it.

“You watch video. You watch some clips. Obviously, talking on the bench is the biggest thing for me,” Drouin said. “Coming back from a shift, you saw something. You want to make sure he saw it, that he felt the same thing you did. But yeah, he’s been awesome so far.”

After being such an important leader with the Islanders, Nelson has also adjusted to his place in his new dressing room.

“I just try to be myself and be the same person and just worry about playing the game,” Nelson said. “Not trying to be anything different. Just add to the group. I’m not the loudest of guys. I come in here, and we have a couple of guys who have been around and won. Hearing those guys speak is a testament to the culture they have here and what they’ve done and what they’re capable of and why this team is considered a contender. To be in that mix is huge. All the guys have been great trying to make me feel comfortable.”

Off the ice, there will be more big decisions coming on July 1. Will he re-sign with the Avs? Or hit the market? There’s been long-rumored interest from the Minnesota Wild in the Minnesota native.

One would imagine Colorado will put its best foot forward, given how hard it was to solve the 2C riddle.

Those things can all wait. In the here and now, chasing a Stanley Cup is all that matters.

“That’s the exciting part about coming to a contender and really having the belief that we’re capable of going all the way and doing something special,” Nelson said. “That’s first and foremost the one objective right now, and after that, everything else will sort itself out. Just worry about playing and enjoying this ride that we’re on.”
- Gabe Athaus

Nelson's the man...one of if not my favorite Islander over his time here. Even when he was really streaky I maintained it was because they kept moving him all around the lineup...different positions and lines...and never let him settle into a role. I don't know if it was that or just the influence of Trotz overall and finally getting some competent guidance, but once he locked down that 2C role it was awesome to watch the player he became. Just wish it could have happened a couple of years earlier.

As for Lou, I'll always be grateful to him for bringing Trotz here and seeing the two of them completely change the culture of this organization. Seeing how much more ready the Isles were than most other teams to get right down to business during that "COVID bubble" playoff run really showed that culture shift. But it's been clear for a few years now that the team needs a fresh perspective. I'm just glad it took two years to pull the trigger on that instead of like 10, which is what we're used to as Isles fans.

Now it all comes down to who the replacement is. I don't pretend to know anything about the quality of available GMs, I just hope the folks doing the hiring do their homework and don't get dazzled by some Milbury-esque BS. I'll say this...with the contracts on the books and lack of depth in the system, whoever takes on this role has their work cut out for them. The next GM is going to need some time to rebuild things, and I wonder how receptive ownership will be to hearing someone lay out a longer-term plan for that vs. someone promising magic beans, miracles, and full attendance at playoff games for the new arena immediately.

Nelson's the man...one of if not my favorite Islander over his time here. Even when he was really streaky I maintained it was because they kept moving him all around the lineup...different positions and lines...and never let him settle into a role. I don't know if it was that or just the influence of Trotz overall and finally getting some competent guidance, but once he locked down that 2C role it was awesome to watch the player he became. Just wish it could have happened a couple of years earlier.

As for Lou, I'll always be grateful to him for bringing Trotz here and seeing the two of them completely change the culture of this organization. Seeing how much more ready the Isles were than most other teams to get right down to business during that "COVID bubble" playoff run really showed that culture shift. But it's been clear for a few years now that the team needs a fresh perspective. I'm just glad it took two years to pull the trigger on that instead of like 10, which is what we're used to as Isles fans.

Now it all comes down to who the replacement is. I don't pretend to know anything about the quality of available GMs, I just hope the folks doing the hiring do their homework and don't get dazzled by some Milbury-esque BS. I'll say this...with the contracts on the books and lack of depth in the system, whoever takes on this role has their work cut out for them. The next GM is going to need some time to rebuild things, and I wonder how receptive ownership will be to hearing someone lay out a longer-term plan for that vs. someone promising magic beans, miracles, and full attendance at playoff games for the new arena immediately.
- UIF

I think you nailed everything on Nelson, so just skipping down to the last paragraph:

I think this is what the lineup looks like assuming the Isles get all their RFA's signed:



I would like DeAngelo back, but something would have to give with one of Dobson/Pulock/Mayfield in order for that to happen. They could buy Mayfield out for a savings of $2.33M through 2030 and then a cost of $1.66M until 2035. Or they could make him a regular scratch and hope he requests a trade. Pulock has a full NMC. I wouldn't give up on Dobson. I don't really like Perunovich, but Reilly is a UFA at 31 so who knows what direction he/the team ends up wanting to go.

Isles figure to have $27.7M in cap space ($28.3M in actual space minus the $600k in bonus overages). Assuming they lock Dobson up long-term and Romanov up I am guessing that will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $15M. I'd estimate another $6M or so to lock up Holmstrom/Tsyplakov/Gatcomb

The roster ain't gonna look great next year. Maybe they end up with Gavin McKenna

From Staple Hearing #Isles also made a big change on the broadcast side:

Longtime radio voices Chris King and @GregPickerHere were let go. Team may not have a radio broadcast going forward.

No two people more devoted to the team than Kinger and Greg.


That sucks. I know some didn't like King. I've spent many a trip to VA listening to their broadcasts. They will be missed.....by me at least

I think you nailed everything on Nelson, so just skipping down to the last paragraph:

I think this is what the lineup looks like assuming the Isles get all their RFA's signed:



I would like DeAngelo back, but something would have to give with one of Dobson/Pulock/Mayfield in order for that to happen. They could buy Mayfield out for a savings of $2.33M through 2030 and then a cost of $1.66M until 2035. Or they could make him a regular scratch and hope he requests a trade. Pulock has a full NMC. I wouldn't give up on Dobson. I don't really like Perunovich, but Reilly is a UFA at 31 so who knows what direction he/the team ends up wanting to go.

Isles figure to have $27.7M in cap space ($28.3M in actual space minus the $600k in bonus overages). Assuming they lock Dobson up long-term and Romanov up I am guessing that will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $15M. I'd estimate another $6M or so to lock up Holmstrom/Tsyplakov/Gatcomb

The roster ain't gonna look great next year. Maybe they end up with Gavin McKenna
- Gabe Athaus

Brutal roster. I want a busy Islander summer for once. Firing and trades like crazy.

Brutal roster. I want a busy Islander summer for once. Firing and trades like crazy.

- ses111

They could look to trade Pageau and move Barzal back to center and go Barzal-Horvat-Ritchie down the middle I guess. Just creates another hole RW though.