ISLES A CUT ABOVE WITH LAMORIELLO SHAPING FUTURE
Retaining Tavares will prove to be GM’s biggest test with plenty of talent on roster
Mathew Barzal said he is more than happy to have Lou Lamoriello as his new boss. And he’s got the barbershop receipt to prove it.
“It was close to my shoulders,” Barzal said of his freshly cut hair, which is still long enough to spill out the back of his helmet. “I know it’s a rule, so I might as well get used to it now.” Indeed, “Lou’s rules” regarding a player’s physical appearance — facial hair is forbidden — was a hot topic immediately after Lamoriello was hired as the New York Islanders’ general manager earlier this month.
“Nick Leddy is sweating right now,” Barzal said of the bearded defenceman, who has gone eight years without taking a razor to his face. “Actually, he texted me the first day Lou got hired — I had really long hair at the time — and said, ‘You’ve got to get that cut.’ I told him that he’s got to get rid of that beard.” Consider it a small sacrifice. One that Barzal is happy to make if it means Lamoriello can do for the Islanders what he did in three short years with the Toronto Maple Leafs: return a beleaguered franchise back to prominence.
Step 1 for the Islanders, who have advanced past the first round of the playoffs just once in 24 seasons, is getting unrestricted free agent John Tavares to sign a contract extension. For that to happen, Tavares has to believe the Islanders are serious about winning a championship. Having Barzal in the lineup helps, considering he led all rookies with 85 points and was expected to win the Calder Trophy at Wednesday’s NHL awards. But Lamoriello is trying to do his part.
It goes beyond mandatory haircuts. Lamoriello has already cleaned house, having fired former GM Garth Snow and head coach Doug Weight. According to reports, he has been in talks with Barry Trotz, who left the Washington Capitals shortly after winning a Stanley Cup.
Add it up and the Islanders are making a convincing argument why Tavares — and any other free agent — would want to sign long term.
“Lou’s done a great job everywhere he’s gone,” said Barzal. “Obviously, I love Dougie (Weight), he was great for me, giving me lots of great opportunity, and Garth drafted me. I have ties to him as well. But again, Lou’s in charge and he’s done a great job everywhere he’s gone. “Obviously I have faith in him to do the same here.”
When Lamoriello took over the Leafs in 2015, the team he inherited was a complete mess. In his first season, he cleaned house, trading away Dion Phaneuf and six other players in an attempt to bottom out and get the No. 1 pick in 2016. It worked, as the Leafs selected Auston Matthews and qualified for the playoffs the following two seasons.
The Islanders are in a much better position, said Barzal — just as long as Tavares stays.
“I became pretty close with John over the course of the year. I look up to him as a role model,” said Barzal. “He’s so professional all the time and such a great guy to have on our team. In terms of what’s going on, we don’t talk too much. I’m sure he’s talked to Lou. I don’t know where they’re at. Me and Johnny are friends, but we don’t talk about that too much.
“Obviously we’d love to have Johnny be our leader and captain for the next five, eight years, whatever it is. I’m sure he’ll make the right decision.” Testing the waters in free agency and picking his destination is a privilege Tavares has rightly earned. It’s one many teams are hoping he takes advantage of in deciding his future.
Still, it would be hard for the 27-year-old not to be impressed with the path the Islanders are on.
“I think obviously we do have some young exciting players,” Barzal said. “Anthony Beauvillier’s great, Ryan Pulock came into his own this year. Two high picks (11th and 12th) this year. Our future looks bright.”
It begins with Barzal, who joined an elite group including Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin to have reached the 80-point mark as a rookie. Compared with those other three players, Barzal’s season was far more surprising considering he spent two years in junior after getting drafted. “I don’t think I really surprised myself,” said Barzal, the No. 16 pick in 2015. “Once things got going, coach gave me a good opportunity and I tried to make the most of it. Once things started going well and I played more and felt more comfortable, that kind of became my expectation. That’s where the bar’s at, I guess.
“Hopefully I can be back (at the awards gala in) the future.”