The New York Islanders have announced they will not be renewing the contract of longtime NHL executive Lou Lamoriello, who served as the team`s president and general manager.
Managing partner John Collins is set to lead the search for the Islanders` next general manager.
In a statement, the team expressed its gratitude: “The Islanders extend a heartfelt thank you to Lou Lamoriello for his extraordinary commitment over the past seven years. His dedication to the team is in line with his Hall of Fame career.”
Lamoriello, 82, oversaw the Islanders` hockey operations for the last seven years, working closely with the ownership group. During his tenure, the team reached the playoffs five times, including consecutive trips to the conference final in 2020 and 2021, although they missed the postseason this season.
Before joining the Islanders in 2018, Lamoriello had a storied career elsewhere. He was the president and GM of the New Jersey Devils from 1987 to 2015, a period during which the Devils won the Stanley Cup three times. He then served as the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2018.
A Hall of Famer in the builders category, Lamoriello was known for his traditional, old-school approach, characterized by strict information control and rules like banning facial hair. This style made him distinct in the modern NHL and some argue it contributed to the franchise`s struggles to reclaim the glory of the 1980-83 dynasty years when they won four straight Stanley Cups.
Lamoriello`s departure introduces uncertainty throughout the organization, potentially affecting the future of other front office members and the coaching staff. He hired Patrick Roy as head coach in January 2024, replacing Lane Lambert.
His son, Chris Lamoriello, who began with the Islanders in 2016 as director of player personnel and was promoted to assistant GM to work under his father in 2018, also faces an uncertain future with the club.
