LAS VEGAS — This is expected to be a different kind of offseason for the Islanders.
The notion that they could hang onto this core and keep everything the same appeared to hit a breaking point last season, first with head coach Lane Lambert’s firing in January, then with the first-round loss to the Hurricanes that ended their season without winning a playoff round for the third straight year.
Instead of the same old notes about belief in the group, general manager Lou Lamoriello said on breakup day that nothing was off the table and nothing would be treated as sacred, marking a notable shift in tone.
Some seven weeks later, though, and it’s still not entirely clear what direction the Islanders’ offseason will take.
