DALLAS — This has been Lou Lamoriello’s MO since he hired Jacques Lemaire to run the Devils in 1993, or maybe even since hiring Herb Brooks to go behind the New Jersey bench the season before that.
Strength and credibility behind the bench, winning his Cups with Lemaire, Larry Robinson and Pat Burns.
Now, the general manager and majordomo of the Islanders has found Barry Trotz, who, unsurprisingly, on Monday walked away from the Caps after guiding Washington to the Stanley Cup and went onto the open market.
The Islanders announced Trotz accepted Lamoriello’s offer of what is believed to be a five-year deal worth north of $20 million to create instant chain-of-command credibility for a franchise that has been devoid of it for years. Trotz flew to New Jersey to meet with Lamoriello within hours of walking away from a low-ball extension offer from the Caps, who sent him out to coach the 2017-18 season as a lame duck.
If the addition of Trotz, who has a career record of 762-568-60 in 1,524 games across 15 seasons with Nashville and four with Washington, is not enough to convince John Tavares to eschew free agency, Lamoriello likely has other moves waiting here at this entry draft weekend that features a general managers meeting Thursday afternoon before Friday’s first round.
Myriad sources have reported that Tavares, who is expected to be courted seriously by at least a half-dozen clubs — including the Maple Leafs — if he reaches July 1, would prefer to remain an Islander if given a reason.
Lamoriello is attempting to do just that.