Which is exactly how Lou likes it....
- JohnScammo

Yes, but I'm also not as confident as I once was that he knows what's happening anymore

That's a good point. I get the feeling this could be a wild offseason (or I guess "continue" to be one after today) for the Isles.

Couple of Fourth Period guys saying to keep an eye on the Isles/Patrick Kane and claiming that Lamoriello has inquired about him before. Hardly Elliotte Friedman or Frank Seravalli, but they're usually pretty on-point. Seems like the cost would be astronomical for what could end up only being one year of his services.
- eichiefs9

Also from a Fourth Period guy:
"Some talk around the team suggests the relationship between coach and some players (and Lou) may have gotten a little bumpy this season.

That said, a new system may exploit the Isles’ offensive game and I suspect that’s part of the reasoning."

Meanwhile:

"Lamoriello, when asked why they parted ways with Barry Trotz: “I would rather not get into any of the reasons.” @NYIslanders"

Sorry but on a move as shocking and franchise-altering as this, I think the option for 'rather not' should at least allow for more context than no context at all.

This is sort of reminiscent of when Milbury fired Laviolette

Also from a Fourth Period guy:
"Some talk around the team suggests the relationship between coach and some players (and Lou) may have gotten a little bumpy this season.

That said, a new system may exploit the Isles’ offensive game and I suspect that’s part of the reasoning."
- keaner17

Maybe Barry did lose the room and that contributed, in some capacity, to today.

It'll certainly be interesting to see what kind of direction this team heads in now, but I feel as uncertain about the future now as I did when Tavares walked.

Yes, but I'm also not as confident as I once was that he knows what's happening anymore
- eichiefs9

Seriously, it's hard to say. Lou has always struck me as prone to micro-managing. I could see where that approach would lead to friction with the head coach. And as has been pointed out, this whole thing unfortunately seems consistent with past behavior.

Maybe Barry did lose the room and that contributed, in some capacity, to today.

It'll certainly be interesting to see what kind of direction this team heads in now, but I feel as uncertain about the future now as I did when Tavares walked.
- eichiefs9

Agreed. As I mentioned, it reminds me of when we canned Lavi. We had been a joke for so long and we suddenly had a young first time coach take us to two consecutive playoffs only to get canned by Milbury and then win a cup in Carolina two years later.

This is sort of reminiscent of when Milbury fired Laviolette
- keaner17

I thought of that, too. Difference being that I have more respect for the cast of characters involved here.........which makes it even harder to wrap my head around.

Meanwhile:

"Lamoriello, when asked why they parted ways with Barry Trotz: “I would rather not get into any of the reasons.” @NYIslanders"

Sorry but on a move as shocking and franchise-altering as this, I think the option for 'rather not' should at least allow for more context than no context at all.
- keaner17

I don’t disagree I would’ve appreciated more of an explanation but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one

Babcock is his guy.
- Feds91Stammer

I’m shocked the hockeybuzz GM’s and inside info experts with obvious, close ties, to the organization on here didn’t see this one coming?

I’m shocked the hockeybuzz GM’s and inside info experts with obvious, close ties, to the organization on here didn’t see this one coming?
- Cptmjl

Maybe they did. I just didn't pay for the subscription

I’m shocked the hockeybuzz GM’s and inside info experts with obvious, close ties, to the organization on here didn’t see this one coming?
- Cptmjl

I knew this was going to happen. I just didn't want to upset anyone by announcing it early.

I’m shocked the hockeybuzz GM’s and inside info experts with obvious, close ties, to the organization on here didn’t see this one coming?
- Cptmjl

Lou made me pinky promise not to tell when we spoke this morning

I knew this was going to happen. I just didn't want to upset anyone by announcing it early.
- Isleshockeyman

They swore you to secrecy also?

Lou made me pinky promise not to tell when we spoke this morning
- eichiefs9

Where is that pinky now?

Where is that pinky now?
- Cptmjl

Stinky

Stinky
- eichiefs9

I can’t imagine a guy that’s so against facial hair on mens faces being a fan of stinky pinkies.

A couple interesting tidbits from the article Kurz just published:

- One league source with knowledge of the Islanders’ dressing room pushed back on Lamoriello’s contention that the decision was made without any player input, pointing out that the general manager surely knew what they were thinking after holding the standard individual player meetings immediately after the season.

- That could have been the case. That style also could have led to frustration in the dressing room and in the postseason meetings. At least some players on the Islanders were not surprised by Monday’s apparent bombshell, according to a league source.

“Is it fun to play that way?” the source said. “Is it fun to have your stick in a certain lane all the time? You don’t play with instinct. It adds up after a while. With his style of play and his structure, you’re either all-in or you’re not. If you’re not all-in, it’s not going to work. It’s as simple as that.”

- “When you play the way that the Islanders play, it’s a hard way to play night in and night out, year after year,” the exec said. “It takes incredible discipline. That’s why I think teams that play like that always have to change out a few pieces every year, no matter how successful they are: to bring in a little bit of life into the team.

A couple interesting tidbits from the article Kurz just published:

- One league source with knowledge of the Islanders’ dressing room pushed back on Lamoriello’s contention that the decision was made without any player input, pointing out that the general manager surely knew what they were thinking after holding the standard individual player meetings immediately after the season.

- That could have been the case. That style also could have led to frustration in the dressing room and in the postseason meetings. At least some players on the Islanders were not surprised by Monday’s apparent bombshell, according to a league source.

“Is it fun to play that way?” the source said. “Is it fun to have your stick in a certain lane all the time? You don’t play with instinct. It adds up after a while. With his style of play and his structure, you’re either all-in or you’re not. If you’re not all-in, it’s not going to work. It’s as simple as that.”

- “When you play the way that the Islanders play, it’s a hard way to play night in and night out, year after year,” the exec said. “It takes incredible discipline. That’s why I think teams that play like that always have to change out a few pieces every year, no matter how successful they are: to bring in a little bit of life into the team.
- eichiefs9

Not surprised by any of this and wouldn’t be shocked if it were true.

Not surprised by any of this and wouldn’t be shocked if it were true.
- Cptmjl

I'm actually pretty surprised at the part about a couple Isles players not being shocked at the firing. Certainly starting to sound like he may have a lost a good chunk of the room.

Not surprised by any of this and wouldn’t be shocked if it were true.
- Cptmjl

Nope. There is a reason he wins though and that’s because he makes the team play a low event d system. It wears thin on players after a while but it gets results. No way the isles make the conference finals the past couple years without that system.

I'm actually pretty surprised at the part about a couple Isles players not being shocked at the firing. Certainly starting to sound like he may have a lost a good chunk of the room.
- eichiefs9

Well when they see clutterbuck getting 14 mins a night while losing I bet that poop gets old real quick.

They swore you to secrecy also?
- Cptmjl

Of course he did.

Nope. There is a reason he wins though and that’s because he makes the team play a low event d system. It wears thin on players after a while but it gets results. No way the isles make the conference finals the past couple years without that system.
- TurdFergeson

Zero argument about any of it but, at some point, if the entire team is sick and tired of it then at some point something needs to happen. I still don't like it, but it sounds like an explanation is slowly starting to emerge