Yes so I trust his judgement.
- Cptmjl

I was thinking Varly as a centerpiece, plus whatever. There are plenty of teams in need of goalies, but I'd think Lou would like to trade out west. And after the Oilers abysmal goaltending display during these playoffs, they are a possible partner. But I agree, it's likely Lou values having two capable goalies. Which is why he wasn't traded at the past deadline. I'm sure his phone was ringing on him. At least I would think so.
- streaks

As Ben pointed out it was reported that he was shopping Varly to the oilers but his NTC nixed it. Who knows if that’s true with the information vacuum that Lameriello’s office is I doubt anyone really knows.

As Ben pointed out it was reported that he was shopping Varly to the oilers but his NTC nixed it. Who knows if that’s true with the information vacuum that Lameriello’s office is I doubt anyone really knows.
- Cptmjl

I obviously need reading comprehension lessons. I just reread and skipped right over that in Ben's response for some reason. My bad.

In a couple of decades of Milbury and Snow, the Islanders won one playoff round, missing the playoffs altogether most of the time. In four years with Lou as GM, 3 years of playoffs, and back-to-back deep playoff runs for the first time since the dynasty years.

Is this the guy who used to claim he had inside info, because he dined with the players?
- JohnScammo

Another way of looking at it is that it was largely Snow's players that gave us the run this team went on the past few years. Lou made a few roster tweaks here and there -- some good and some decidedly average -- but the core players were already either on the team or in the system.

At the end of the day, Snow assembled a halfway decent team; he just wasn't a competent enough manager to wring any success out of it. That's the most frustrating thing...we're watching players succeed now when they only have a few more good years left in them, and it's clear that, with better coaching and development, we could have been seeing this same success when these guys were all still in their mid-20s. But, either because he had to be the smartest guy in the room or because no one respectable would work for him, Snow stuck with terrible coaches and made boneheaded decisions when it came to developing the talent he assembled.

As for Lou, I always thought his best decision by far since taking over was signing Trotz. That's the kind of hire we never could have hoped for when Snow was running the show, and that's what allowed the roster to finally show what it could really do with the right guidance. I'm still not sure what to make of the decision to fire him. The good news for us is the pressure on Lou will be enormous after making a call like that...if this team doesn't kick it into a higher gear next season, there's no one for Lou to blame it on. So, we can probably expect him to pull everything out of his bag of tricks to make the team better.

I guess that's a long way of saying arguing about Lou now is sort of pointless because we won't have to wait long to get a solid answer...it's now or never for him.

In a couple of decades of Milbury and Snow, the Islanders won one playoff round, missing the playoffs altogether most of the time. In four years with Lou as GM, 3 years of playoffs, and back-to-back deep playoff runs for the first time since the dynasty years.

Is this the guy who used to claim he had inside info, because he dined with the players?
- JohnScammo

Barry's fired, Now can Lou!

Pretty much agree with this. If Lameriello signs a couple of over the hill dolts and expects them to play serious minutes and the team sputters again well he deserves the criticism but he has earned another year to correct this past season imo.
- Cptmjl

Too soon to give up on Lou. Another bad season and all bets are off though. This offseason needs to include serious changes.

Dude, you really need a drink. They missed the playoffs once in 4 years, that's better than most teams in the league. Not to mention that there were several factors that contributed to this bad season. I'll wait to see what Lou does this off-season before passing any further judgement.
It was asked of you previously, but you did not answer. Would you rather have Snow back?
- Isleshockeyman

Thank you!

Bailey is a must trade. Will be interesting to see if the Isles can sign a big UFA. The building is no longer an excuse.
- ses111

This has been said so many times on this site and it obviously never happened. Bailey will retire years from now as a life long Islander.

This has been said so many times on this site and it obviously never happened. Bailey will retire years from now as a life long Islander.
- JimmyP

Another way of looking at it is that it was largely Snow's players that gave us the run this team went on the past few years. Lou made a few roster tweaks here and there -- some good and some decidedly average -- but the core players were already either on the team or in the system.

At the end of the day, Snow assembled a halfway decent team; he just wasn't a competent enough manager to wring any success out of it. That's the most frustrating thing...we're watching players succeed now when they only have a few more good years left in them, and it's clear that, with better coaching and development, we could have been seeing this same success when these guys were all still in their mid-20s. But, either because he had to be the smartest guy in the room or because no one respectable would work for him, Snow stuck with terrible coaches and made boneheaded decisions when it came to developing the talent he assembled.

As for Lou, I always thought his best decision by far since taking over was signing Trotz. That's the kind of hire we never could have hoped for when Snow was running the show, and that's what allowed the roster to finally show what it could really do with the right guidance. I'm still not sure what to make of the decision to fire him. The good news for us is the pressure on Lou will be enormous after making a call like that...if this team doesn't kick it into a higher gear next season, there's no one for Lou to blame it on. So, we can probably expect him to pull everything out of his bag of tricks to make the team better.

I guess that's a long way of saying arguing about Lou now is sort of pointless because we won't have to wait long to get a solid answer...it's now or never for him.
- UIF

Considering all the years of the Islanders' suckitude under Snow, I am not overly impressed with the players that Snow managed to accumulate, mostly through the draft. Yes, he managed to draft or trade for some decent players, but he ended up with little to show for his drafting of top 5 overall picks. His biggest success might have been swindling the 16th overall pick from the Oilers in exchange for Reinhart, which pick he used to draft Barzal. Pulock and Pelech and Mayfield turned into good picks as well.

I give Trotz a ton of credit for instituting a defensive system that compensated for the Islanders' lack of scoring talent. He recognized that the Islanders weren't going to win if the game turned into run-and-gun. Like you, I was dismayed when Trotz was let go. However, the explanation that has filtered out seems to be that it was a mutual decision, that Trotz wanted to return to Winnipeg for personal reasons. I do think that Lou is respected around the NHL, unlike either of his predecessors. But he's got his work cut out for him, trying to "win now" with this aging roster.

This has been said so many times on this site and it obviously never happened. Bailey will retire years from now as a life long Islander.
- JimmyP

The problem is that there is no market for Bailey. Snow overpaid him in a desperate move to convince his best buddy, Tavares, to re-sign with the Isles.

The problem is that there is no market for Bailey. Snow overpaid him in a desperate move to convince his best buddy, Tavares, to re-sign with the Isles.
- JohnScammo

For Bailey? He’s our top playoff performer!

For Bailey? He’s our top playoff performer!
- Cptmjl

I've never been a Bailey fan, but I don't think he's as bad as most on here make him out to be. The team has scoring issues as it is. If they do find a way to trade him then that's another whole in the top 6. I don't think it's going to happen.

Plus if they trade him we won't get to hear Anson Carter sing that dumb song.

I've never been a Bailey fan, but I don't think he's as bad as most on here make him out to be. The team has scoring issues as it is. If they do find a way to trade him then that's another whole in the top 6. I don't think it's going to happen.

Plus if they trade him we won't get to hear Anson Carter sing that dumb song.
- JimmyP

Bailey isn’t a bad player he’s just incredibly frustrating to watch. He goes from really good to really bad for long stretches. No consistency whatsoever. We have too many inconsistent players, as it is, and he for the most part is less useful imo. So it’s been nice knowing you Bailey if we can get rid of him as far as I’m concerned.

Considering all the years of the Islanders' suckitude under Snow, I am not overly impressed with the players that Snow managed to accumulate, mostly through the draft. Yes, he managed to draft or trade for some decent players, but he ended up with little to show for his drafting of top 5 overall picks. His biggest success might have been swindling the 16th overall pick from the Oilers in exchange for Reinhart, which pick he used to draft Barzal. Pulock and Pelech and Mayfield turned into good picks as well.

I give Trotz a ton of credit for instituting a defensive system that compensated for the Islanders' lack of scoring talent. He recognized that the Islanders weren't going to win if the game turned into run-and-gun. Like you, I was dismayed when Trotz was let go. However, the explanation that has filtered out seems to be that it was a mutual decision, that Trotz wanted to return to Winnipeg for personal reasons. I do think that Lou is respected around the NHL, unlike either of his predecessors. But he's got his work cut out for him, trying to "win now" with this aging roster.
- JohnScammo

Yep, agree the top-5 picks turned out not so great. That's when I stopped pretending I knew anything about prospects, since I agreed with the Reinhardt, Strome, and DalColle picks

But Barzal, Lee, Nelson, Sorokin, Pulock, and Pelech all turned out to be solid players you could put on a top line/first pair. Toews and Mayfield are good support players. Cizikas and Martin were as good role players as you'll find for a long time.

I'm not making a case for Snow, by the way. He was a disaster at almost everything when it comes to a GM's job. I just think that, for all his fumbling, he managed to leave Lou with a pretty good roster...and that's even with his centerpiece walking out the door to Toronto. I'm sure Lou would agree with that since he didn't upend the roster and re-signed most of the core pieces.

I'd also say that, for as much as Trotz's system compensated for lack of high-end scoring, his system wouldn't have been successful without a full-team commitment, which he got. The Isles were a solid group ready to take the next step...they just needed leadership.

Yep, agree the top-5 picks turned out not so great. That's when I stopped pretending I knew anything about prospects, since I agreed with the Reinhardt, Strome, and DalColle picks

But Barzal, Lee, Nelson, Sorokin, Pulock, and Pelech all turned out to be solid players you could put on a top line/first pair. Toews and Mayfield are good support players. Cizikas and Martin were as good role players as you'll find for a long time.

I'm not making a case for Snow, by the way. He was a disaster at almost everything when it comes to a GM's job. I just think that, for all his fumbling, he managed to leave Lou with a pretty good roster...and that's even with his centerpiece walking out the door to Toronto. I'm sure Lou would agree with that since he didn't upend the roster and re-signed most of the core pieces.

I'd also say that, for as much as Trotz's system compensated for lack of high-end scoring, his system wouldn't have been successful without a full-team commitment, which he got. The Isles were a solid group ready to take the next step...they just needed leadership.
- UIF

Bring this rubbish elsewhere you god damn, mother(frank)ing, Snow apologist.

Bring this rubbish elsewhere you god damn, mother(frank)ing, Snow apologist.
- Cptmjl

Someone has to say it!

Someone has to say it!
- UIF

Yep, agree the top-5 picks turned out not so great. That's when I stopped pretending I knew anything about prospects, since I agreed with the Reinhardt, Strome, and DalColle picks

But Barzal, Lee, Nelson, Sorokin, Pulock, and Pelech all turned out to be solid players you could put on a top line/first pair. Toews and Mayfield are good support players. Cizikas and Martin were as good role players as you'll find for a long time.

I'm not making a case for Snow, by the way. He was a disaster at almost everything when it comes to a GM's job. I just think that, for all his fumbling, he managed to leave Lou with a pretty good roster...and that's even with his centerpiece walking out the door to Toronto. I'm sure Lou would agree with that since he didn't upend the roster and re-signed most of the core pieces.

I'd also say that, for as much as Trotz's system compensated for lack of high-end scoring, his system wouldn't have been successful without a full-team commitment, which he got. The Isles were a solid group ready to take the next step...they just needed leadership.
- UIF

Agreed. Snow stumbled on some pretty good picks in the later rounds. And yes, after all those years of high draft positions due to the team's sucking, Snow managed to assemble a "pretty good" roster. But the lack of high end scoring talent has been their undoing.

Agreed. Snow stumbled on some pretty good picks in the later rounds. And yes, after all those years of high draft positions due to the team's sucking, Snow managed to assemble a "pretty good" roster. But the lack of high end scoring talent has been their undoing.
- JohnScammo

His knack for hitting on some real good players in the later rounds was uncanny. Though his total misses in the top 10 were maddening.

His knack for hitting on some real good players in the later rounds was uncanny. Though his total misses in the top 10 were maddening.
- Cptmjl

That should be his epitaph.

The problem is that there is no market for Bailey. Snow overpaid him in a desperate move to convince his best buddy, Tavares, to re-sign with the Isles.
- JohnScammo

The Yotes will need him for his contract.

That should be his epitaph.
- UIF

That’s just a tad morbid.

That’s just a tad morbid.
- Cptmjl

Just seemed to roll off the tongue right after, "Here lies..."

Just seemed to roll off the tongue right after, "Here lies..."
- UIF

the man that tortured the Islander fan base for twelve long years.”