It’s unlikely to happen soon, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen at all.
The possibility of Lou Lamoriello leaving Toronto to save the Islanders is now even more relevant after the Maple Leafs announced on Monday that the Hall of Fame executive would not return for a fourth season as general manager. Maple Leafs team president Brendan Shanahan made it very clear that this was the plan all along, with Lamoriello’s contract now segueing into four years as a role as an advisor.
“Three years ago, Lou and I agreed on a contract that would see him serve as general manager of the Maple Leafs for three years and then transition to senior advisor for the following four years,” Shanahan said in a statement. “This morning I informed Lou that I was not going to deviate from that course of action. I will now focus all of my attention towards making a decision regarding our next general manager.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lou for his tireless work over the last three years as general manager. His leadership in helping establish a cultural foundation, as well as his invaluable mentorship to everyone in this organization, has been instrumental in our development.”
This past Wednesday, the Leafs lost in Game 7 of their first-round series to the Bruins, their second straight first-round exit. The Islanders, meanwhile, missed the playoffs for the second straight year and are still operating with Garth Snow at the helm of the front office. Snow is preparing for his 13th year in that role, having made the postseason four out of the previous 12 seasons with one series victory to show for it.
Upon the end of this season, with the decision of John Tavares’ possible free agency casting a long shadow over the whole organization, co-owner Jon Ledecky said that he is “evaluating all aspects of our hockey operations.” But it sure seemed like Snow and second-year coach Doug Weight were secure in their jobs — at least for the time being.
Likely the biggest lure for Lamoriello to come to the rescue is that his son, Chris, has worked as Snow’s assistant GM since August of 2016. Chris even represented the franchise at the draft lottery on Saturday in — of all places — Toronto, where the Islanders got awarded picks No. 11 and No. 12 (from Calgary).
Snow is also known to be rather friendly with the elder Lamoriello, who is now 75 years old after making his name winning three Stanley Cups with the Devils. When Ray Shero took over as GM in New Jersey in 2015, Lamoriello stayed on only one year as an advisor before leaving for Toronto. Then, it was Shanahan who enticed him with the prospect of another big challenge.
It’s assumed that there would be some kind of out-clause — either currently in the contract or one that could be negotiated — if Lamoriello approached Shanahan and said he had another opportunity to be a GM. But that would mean Lamoriello and the Islanders show mutual interest, and that’s currently a long way off — for now.
“First of all, my responsibility is right here with the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Lamoriello said on a conference call. “I made an agreement and a decision three years ago and it’s my intent to honor that.”