Lou Lamoriello to run Islanders

— Lou Lamoriello is taking over the New York Islanders.

All the questions belong to him now.

The Islanders announced the hiring of Lamoriello on Tuesday as president of hockey operations, giving the longtime NHL executive the keys to a franchise that has missed the playoffs eight times in the past 12 years with Garth Snow as general manager.

The 75-year-old Lamoriello, who led the New Jersey Devils to three Stanley Cup titles and helped Toronto become playoff contenders again, is tasked with trying to re-sign star center John Tavares and the future of Snow and coach Doug Weight.

Lamoriello said he had no preconceived notions about the inner workings of the Islanders, and he also wasn’t willing to show his hand on what he might do with the team.

“As I’ve done in the past in a situation like this, I take a step back and see exactly what the people who you have in place have to offer, what their thoughts are, what their vision is and then make decisions as I go along,” Lamoriello said on a conference call.

“I certainly have thoughts like you think I would have. But rather than express them, I’d rather just keep them to myself and allow the process to take place before making any judgments.”

Those judgments will be his to make.

The Islanders said Lamoriello “will have full authority over all hockey matters with the organization.”

“We are committed to giving Lou every resource and the full support of the entire organization as we pursue our program to compete at the highest level,” co-owner Scott Malkin said.

This move undoubtedly takes power away from Snow, who has four years left on his contract originally signed by previous owner Charles Wang.

Lamoriello’s hiring was first reported by The Athletic, which said Snow’s deal has a “steep buyout.”

But Lamoriello didn’t go to the Islanders to share power. He left New Jersey to become Toronto’s GM in 2015 after he was bumped upstairs and replaced by Ray Shero.

The move to the Islanders comes after he was shifted into an advisory role with the Maple Leafs, who promoted Kyle Dubas.

AP-Yonhap Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello speaks to reporters during a news conference on the first day of NHL hockey training camp, in Toronto, in this Sept. 14, 2017 file photo.