I had been thinking all along that they might move Barzal. I dont think that way anymore.
- chazpet

Yep! Barzal has 1 year left on his contract. Getting him to sign while Barry is there may prove much more difficult!

So Barzal is now the GM and coach? What a (frank)ing joke. This is about an extension which Lou ( probably the owners)didn’t want to give Barry. It doesn’t have anything to do with Barzal. Give me a (frank)ing break! Barzal isn’t Gretzky.
PS. Nice to see Cpt and Tennille back together again.

Would be a huge mistake to bring back mostly the same team. Bailey going has to be at the top of the list and hopefully Greene and Chara retire. Isles have to finally be able to sign a top offensive player in FA.
- ses111

Don’t be surprised next season when it’s the same team returning with maybe a minor addition. Just sayin’.

What is amazing about this move is that every hockey analyst is scratching their head on this move. Not one reaction has been this is a smart move on Lou's part.

If it is in fact management listening to Barzal over Barry Trotz it is a mistake. This is by far Lou's worst move since trading Devon Toews.

Unless there are some whole sale changes to this team the result will and could be worst. Trotz held his players accountable in an offense starved lineup.

The search for a new coach, the upcoming draft and free agency this year are even more critical then when Pajama Boy left.

Don’t be surprised next season when it’s the same team returning with maybe a minor addition. Just sayin’.
- Isleshockeyman

This is the exact direction we are heading. Anyone that does not see this is mistaken.

Yep! Barzal has 1 year left on his contract. Getting him to sign while Barry is there may prove much more difficult!
- HenryHockey

Trade Barzal for Chychrun !!! He is not the leader on this team. He cannot carry this team. Regardless of who is around him. Build from the back out.

Go after the big free agents.

Move some vets at the draft.

What is amazing about this move is that every hockey analyst is scratching their head on this move. Not one reaction has been this is a smart move on Lou's part.

If it is in fact management listening to Barzal over Barry Trotz it is a mistake. This is by far Lou's worst move since trading Devon Toews.

Unless there are some whole sale changes to this team the result will and could be worst. Trotz held his players accountable in an offense starved lineup.

The search for a new coach, the upcoming draft and free agency this year are even more critical then when Pajama Boy left.
- Nfdbulldawg

To a degree, yes. But how many times was Bailey benched for turnovers or lazy D zone play? How many times was Chara or Greene benched for bad D zone turnovers? Trotz gave a very long leash to vets. I'm not saying I agree with this move, I'm just very curious to see where it goes from here.

Could be another painful season if this is the case.
- ses111

From the article you posted:
“These types of decisions are made for going forward, not for the backward,” Lamoriello added. “With this group we have, and they’re on notice right now, that new voice is necessary to have success. My opinion is what makes these decisions.”

Sounds to me like he believes he has the team he wants. Maybe a minor tweak or two.

The young players were held accountable. The vets were not. The new coach has to be able to reach the young forwards in particular.
- ses111

I think the young players were held accountable too much sometimes. As in they were held for some of the vets mistakes. I think everyone should be held accountable. Doesn't matter how long they've been in the league or how much they make. You screw up, you pay the price.

Barzals number did dip a little bit when Lou and Barry took over. He's still a .859ppg player though. And that's playing mostly in a defense-first system. If they can get him a pure scorer on his wing I think he could hit 100 points. He's a play-maker with a creative, offensive mind and I'm guessing that playing in Barry's system grated on him. Therefore I could see why he didn't want Trotz as the coach. And no, 7, I'm not saying that Barzy got Trotz fired. But if he lost the room and there were several vets that voiced their displeasure, well you kind of have to listen as the GM.

You will likely have a divided team if you only hold the young players accountable. Barry is a wonderful coach but he needs to do better with young talent.
- ses111

I agree but listen, there is and always will be (usually) a little more leeway for vets than young kids. Doesn't matter what job you have. I've been doing my job for 25 years. If the same mistake is made by myself and a young kid I work with that's pretty new, I'm probably going to get the "hey, just keep an eye on that going forward." Whereas the young kid may get pulled into the big boss' office for a reprimand. So I do get vets having a longer leash. But they still have to be held accountable and it didn't appear that they were. We all watched the games. We all saw the same sloppy, lazy play from vets here and there. None of them got benched for it though. You see that as a youngster and it probably disheartens you and maybe disconnects you from the team.

Barzal is never going to be a shutdown defense type player. Barzal's bread and butter is offense. Barzal needs another player that can generate offense. Barzal never looked happy this year and looked to have an issue. Wally regressed this season as well. He showed promise last year and during the playoffs before he got hurt. I would have let Barry finish the last year on his deal and not renew his contract if the team had another down year.
- ses111

I agree with everything except your last sentence and here's why. The team didn't make the playoffs(obvious). Now there's reports that some players were not happy with Barry as the coach. Maybe burnt out on defense first hockey. If you have a divided room with a few players that have already tuned him out, then how can that make for a successful season? You're going to have most of the guys playing the system and maybe a handful going rogue. It can't work. It just can't. So what do you do as the GM? Really only one choice. Because the other option is to trade all of the "malcontents".

I agree Vets should have more leeway just not a free pass. Right or wrong, you cannot coach the players the same way you did in the 70's and 80's and especially young players. Players in general have more power today in sports.
- ses111

You're absolutely right and I completely agree.

Having heard some of the reports of issues coming out since the firing, I do think Barry had to go. I'm wondering if Barry attempted any adjustments to the system or his coaching with young players? I posted a while ago I thought some adjustments should have been made? Barry system is very successful but it is very difficult over the long haul. The Caps had the offense to win a Cup but the shelf life of a coach is a lot less today.
- ses111

Oh it definitely is. Seems like most teams are in win now mode and if it doesn't happen, can the coach. There are still a few teams that are slowly building and want to stay relevant for a good chunk of time. Arizona, Seattle and Ottawa come to mind.

Im sorry, Lou lams did what?
Barry took a team who could never make the playoffs, deep into the playoffs several times.
Barry was not the reason the Isles were bad this year.
Get rid of Lou.

From the article you posted:
“These types of decisions are made for going forward, not for the backward,” Lamoriello added. “With this group we have, and they’re on notice right now, that new voice is necessary to have success. My opinion is what makes these decisions.”

Sounds to me like he believes he has the team he wants. Maybe a minor tweak or two.
- Isleshockeyman

Ugh thats not good.

What is amazing about this move is that every hockey analyst is scratching their head on this move. Not one reaction has been this is a smart move on Lou's part.

If it is in fact management listening to Barzal over Barry Trotz it is a mistake. This is by far Lou's worst move since trading Devon Toews.

Unless there are some whole sale changes to this team the result will and could be worst. Trotz held his players accountable in an offense starved lineup.

The search for a new coach, the upcoming draft and free agency this year are even more critical then when Pajama Boy left.
- Nfdbulldawg

I doubt it’s just BARZAL if it is in fact the players tuned him out. It’s most likely multiple players if there’s truth to this. Lou said they needed a new voice…

What is amazing about this move is that every hockey analyst is scratching their head on this move. Not one reaction has been this is a smart move on Lou's part.

If it is in fact management listening to Barzal over Barry Trotz it is a mistake. This is by far Lou's worst move since trading Devon Toews.

Unless there are some whole sale changes to this team the result will and could be worst. Trotz held his players accountable in an offense starved lineup.

The search for a new coach, the upcoming draft and free agency this year are even more critical then when Pajama Boy left.
- Nfdbulldawg

Meh, I’m going to disagree with this. If you put “some players” there it would be factual.

So who is the next coach, you know Lou will go for experience and a big name, that’s his style.



John Tonelli for HOF

Ugh thats not good.
- Fakepartofme

I didn't say it was. lol

Meh, I’m going to disagree with this. If you put “some players” there it would be factual.
- Cptmjl

Fair

So who is the next coach, you know Lou will go for experience and a big name, that’s his style.



John Tonelli for HOF
- Tee56

I’m hoping for Quennville I can care less about his baggage. To me he’s the most qualified and as close to what we should be looking for.

I’m hoping for Quennville I can care less about his baggage. To me he’s the most qualified and as close to what we should be looking for.
- Cptmjl

Best fit for Q too since the woke hockey nerd crowd already hates the islanders.

So who is the next coach, you know Lou will go for experience and a big name, that’s his style.



John Tonelli for HOF
- Tee56

I hear some assistant coach named Jack Capuano might be available. He's supposed to be pretty good. Wonder if he would consider coaching this team.

I was in a golf outing yesterday .. when my phone started to blow up I was expecting the worst. Islander's firing Trotz was not close to the worst.

I don't agree with the move and I don't understand the move. When you have a HOF coach who is genuinely liked by just about everyone it certainly comes as a surprise. One of the 2 moves that Lou has made as GM I gave him credit for was hiring Trotz (other was JGP).. the rest is just brutal. got rid of Toews, Leddy, Eberle, and signed Chara, Palmieri, and Greene... none of these are "great moves".

I guess the numbers he got Brock, Pelech and Pulock to sign for are impressive but over all He hasn't really done much to make this team better .. IMO.