Reviewing The Isles Free Agency Moves Under Lou Lamoriello
Written by Blast Thunderpunch
BD is taking a couple of days to cry over losing John Tavares and consult his analytics buddy bloggers in the NHL in order to complain about the team moves so far. So I will be taking over today for an alternative look at Lou Lamoriello’s additions so far...
The NY Islanders always seemed to be a cold team. How else do you explain a playoff series against the Capitals where they go to 7 games only to lay down a die with no offense?
I am not sure why Isles fans are surprised by the last two seasons of missed playoffs. They were as cold as the crappy ice at Barclays.
A young team needs fire and willpower, especially when a skill isn’t quite at their maximum peak. Garth Snow seemed all about potential skill but never seemed that concentrated with the rest in the interim. So we watched them fail as we all kept on waiting for players to bloom or maximize potential.
Now Lou is here.
So far we have seen moves that are to install a foundation very quickly of some fiery hot examples of character, leadership, and determination. The kind of pieces that you hope rub off on this shivering bunch. This includes bringing back fan favorite Matt Martin from Toronto.
Martin might only play 10 minutes or so a game, but this team needs some accurate fists and protection. You also hope that he can click with his former linemates, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck, who have floundered while he was gone.
According to those who watched the Buffalo Sabres, Robin Lehner is no real prize in a goalie. Then again, his contract is cheap and he also brings some heat and crazy eyes. This gives the team options if Thomas Greiss is still terrible, or if Linus Soderstrom needs some time to develop at Bridgeport along with the option of Christopher Gibson. Plus, nobody who has come in or been signed will give the Isles true number 1 goalie option in Ilya Sorokin any concern if he chooses to come over in 2 years.
Whoever Lou hires, whether it be is longtime goaltending guru, Mitch Korn or not, will have their work cut out for them. Both Lehner and Greiss were awful with rebounds. However, they look like very interesting opposites. Greiss keeps cool and composed. Lehner is… well, a bit nuts.
Rumor has it Greiss was offered to the Flames, but they didn’t want to take on the extra $$$. Perhaps this was a swap for a vet like Craig Anderson. Another not so great goalie, but who has more experience and been used to playing more frequently.
At forward, Lou adds a 34 old Finn in Valtteri Filppula who has a respectable 2-way game. Filppula was the guy back in Tampa who was supposed to replace Vincent Lecavalier. He had been used on line 2 back then and then on line 3. Defensively he is sharp, but he has dropped off offensively.
He is another competitor and leader. So you have some 2nd line C insurance if nobody else is capable or gotten through trade, or can at least hold defensively on line 3. That is something Brock Nelson did not seem to do very well last season.
Tom Kuhnhackl is intriguing. He Is a good skater who has been handling the Pittsburgh Penguins penalty kill the last two seasons. We might see him as the depth forward.
Then we have Leo Komarov, who Lou had to sign to a 4-year deal to get for the Isles. Though Leo is a bottom 6 kind of forward, he is considered a leader, aggressive, and feisty. He’s another strong skater and penalty killer. Above all, he is a hard worker and sharp defensively. He doesn’t take a lot of penalties despite his aggressive play.
So we see a lot of effort for the Isles to now shut down opposing top scorers in their free agent pickups to help Barry Trotz’s defensive-first system.
I will admit there is a bit of concern in having no replacement or addition to the offense. A team has to make-up the goals they have lost. We will have to hope something is up Lou’s sleeve soon. Not to mention a defense that just lost a top 4 player like Calvin de Haan, who signed a 4-year deal over in Carolina.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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