Maple Leafs: Lamoriello joining son with Isles
Lou Lamoriello is expected to leave his senior advisory role with the Maple Leafs this week and join his son Chris in the hockey operations department with the New York Islanders.
“Done deal,” a source told the Star on Monday.
A formal announcement is expected before the Stanley Cup final. The league has told teams not to make major announcements during the final.
Chris Lamoriello is an assistant to Isles GM Garth Snow. Lou Lamoriello was the general manager of the Maple Leafs for three years, and will be remembered as the man who changed team culture in a positive way.
Kyle Dubas, who had been assistant GM for four seasons and an acolyte of team president Brendan Shanahan, was promoted to GM on May 11.
The Athletic cited multiple sources confirming Lamoriello’s move, which had been widely speculated after Shanahan took the GM’s title away. The French website Hockey30 didn’t cite sources, but reported that Lamoriello had been making calls on behalf of the Islanders.
Lamoriello is American and his home is close to Long Island. Hockey30 reported that he had reached out to pending freeagent centre John Tavares on behalf of the Isles. If he was acting on behalf of the Leafs, speaking with Tavares could be considered tampering.
Attention will now turn to the future of Leafs assistant GM Mark Hunter, who had been up for the job that went to Dubas. The Leafs hope he stays, but he has not spoken publicly about his plans.