On our team previews to begin the 2021-22 season, our panel at Big Apple Hockey selected the the New York Islanders to represent the Eastern Conference in the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals. I laughed when I predicted the Islanders to take out the Rangers in the first round as to picture my misery in the first round. However, the Islanders road to the Stanley Cup Finals was going to begin with a 13 game road trip as UBS Arena was finishing construction. We know now that the Islanders 18-20-6 record has them on the outside of the playoff picture and seeing the Stanley Cup dreams looking about as good as me landing a date with Scarlett Johansson. This has lead to fan frustration and it was confronted by our sister page on Facebook, All Things Islanders, with a post criticizing the fans who think Barry Trotz and Lou Lamoriello need to be fired.
No one thought when Lou and Trotz showed up in 2018 after another season of misery for the New York Islanders under Doug Weight, where they allowed so many goals that the goal light could have been used to light up the Barclay Center. They had a superstar (John Tavares) that was questioning his future and a roster of meh players around the rookie of the year on it (Mat Barzal). Lou made his pitch to keep John Tavares that ended up with him accepting the offer to join to Toronto Maple Leafs, the organization Lamoriello just came from, but this wasn't a travesty for him. It was an opportunity. With Trotz in tow, they remade the Islanders into a defensive juggernaut and won
5 playoff series (not counting the play-in series from 2020). The last TWO seasons, they were the runner up to win the Eastern Conference to the eventual Stanley Cup winner Tampa Bay Lightning. It was only logical that Trotz would lead them to the next step.
So far...it doesn't look good.
In New York, you will get called out for a failure and some fans are doing that. As a result, All Things Islanders posted a rebuttal to those who are calling for their jobs.
"I can’t believe that it’s necessary to write a post defending Trotz and Lamoriello. So many Islanders fans want them gone…it’s baffling to me." - All Things Islanders
Read the full rebuttal click here
Honestly, it's like watching a buddy find the perfect girl and want to break up over a nothing fight. A year ago, the Islanders were saddled with contracts like Andrew Ladd that crippled their ability to make roster moves. Lou Lamoriello -already a Hockey Hall of Famer- has stock piled cap space that could land a big player next season in a brand new building that has fans excited...so fire him?
Barry Trotz came in fresh off a Stanley Cup Championship in 2018 and immediately lead the Islanders to their second best era in their history by creating a structure and culture that hasn't been seen on Long Island in decades...so fire him?
Regardless of how the Islanders season ends this year - Cup or NOT - the job Trotz and Lou are DOING should be commended. What about the notion "In Trotz We Trust"? Well, trust ME, this season is an abnormality, not a norm for this team. If you call for someone's job after what they've done the last few years, what exec / coach will ever be good enough?
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