Lamoriello says the Islanders did everything to keep Tavares
GM hopes youngster Barzal will take over
Lou Lamoriello is looking forward to next season, not back on why the Islanders lost franchise player John Tavares to his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs via free agency.
“First of all, we did everything I think we possibly could to keep John,” the Islanders’ president said Thursday on Sirius XM NHL Network. “He’s been an exceptional player for the Islanders. But he now is with another team, so that’s the past.”
Lamoriello’s 13-minute interview with co-hosts Gord Stellick and Rob Simpson marked his first public comments since Tavares agreed to a seven-year, $77-million deal with the
Maple Leafs on Sunday.
The Islanders were the only team able to offer Tavares an eight-year deal and they also reportedly offered $11.25 million annually.
But even after losing Tavares, Lamoriello said he does not believe the Islanders are rebuilding under new coach Barry Trotz, who led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup last season before departing because of a salary impasse.
“What we’re doing right now is trying to get knowledge of who we are and learning more about each and every one of the players we have here,” said Lamoriello, who was part of the Maple Leafs’ rebuilding efforts as their general manager the past three seasons.
“In Toronto, we had to really break it right down and get to the core and see who wanted to be a part of it,” Lamoriello said.
“There is more talent here at this given time from the original core. So I think that it’s different. It’s not a breakdown. It’s really finding out exactly how high the level is of the players you do have here.
“There’s a couple of exceptional hockey players here in my opinion as far as their talent.”
Mathew Barzal, the heir apparent to Tavares as the franchise player and No. 1 centre, had 22 goals and 63 assists in winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. Left-wing Anders Lee scored 40 goals, and second-year forward Anthony Beauvillier chipped in 21 goals and 15 assists.
But just as Lamoriello noted in a statement on Sunday that Tavares had enjoyed great “individual” success with the Islanders — the team reached the playoffs just three times in his nine seasons and won just one series — Lamoriello stressed the key to the Islanders’ future is building a successful culture.
As an example, he cited the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights, who lost to the Capitals in the Stanley Cup final.
“Individual players win games, but teams win championships,” Lamoriello said.
While Tavares departed for the Maple Leafs, Lamoriello signed unrestricted free agent Robin Lehner to a one-year, $1.5-million deal to potentially address the Islanders’ need for a No. 1 goalie. The Islanders allowed an NHLworst 293 goals last season.
Lamoriello said the low figure “astonished” him.
But he added, “I do know with Barry and I’s style and philosophy, that’s not going to be too difficult to take care of.”
“I think Robin Lehner is a unique case,” Lamoriello added of the six-foot-four, 245-pound goalie who went 14-26-9 with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage for the Sabres last season. “He has something you can’t teach: Size and talent. Hopefully our coaching staff can get him back to the form he was at.”
He also acknowledged overpaying for UFA centre Leo Komarov, who left the Maple Leafs for a four-year, $12-million deal, but said teams must overpay for most free agents and that the 31-year-old Russian will help change the Islanders’ culture.
“He’s going to bring intangibles that you can’t teach,” Lamoriello said.