Lamoriello takes patient approach
When Lou Lamoriello ran the New Jersey Devils, he insisted his players be clean shaven.
Given the number of three-day beards at the Maple Leafs’ annual golf tournament Monday, no such edict has been given — yet — from the new GM of the Maple Leafs.
“He hasn’t said anything,” said Daniel Winnik, rubbing his beard a bit nervously.
“That’s not even a thought right now,” Lamoriello said of the beard question. “For me, the most important thing is the personnel, and who are we and all that. I think you’ve got to put the right things in perspective first. The most important thing is: who are we as a team? And who are we as players? And what can we expect? And what can we do? That’s the main focus, nothing else.” Lamoriello took a second after that. “I have more questions than answers,” he said. “I really wish I had more answers.” These questions will begin to be answered starting Thursday, when training camp opens at the MasterCard Centre before moving for three days to Halifax.
“From meeting Lou and speaking with him, I’m really excited to be working for him,” said Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf.
The biggest question is who will make up the 23-man roster by the time training camp ends. The Leafs, of course, will have the likes of prospects Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen in camp fighting for spots.
“You are always going to play the best players,” said Lamoriello. “But I’ve always said a young player really tells you when he’s ready. You don’t really tell him. He has to have something special. If not, you’re doing an injustice, not only to him but to the organization.”
Lamoriello has also invited a number of veterans including Devin Setoguchi, Brad Boyes and Curtis Glencross to camp on tryouts.
“They’re going to have show that they belong or they can play,” said Lamoriello. “Really, you have an opportunity to compare them with the people you have. For me, more importantly, they push the people you have as far as competition.”
Given he was just hired in the summer — after the draft and the trade of Phil Kessel — it’s a little early for Lamoriello to have made an impact on the Maple Leafs. But it’s coming. He will address the team in camp.
“I don’t think that’s something I would discuss right now,” said Lamoriello. “It would be something that comes from the heart . . . how players should act both on and off the ice.”