Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrates his second period goal against the Boston Bruins (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The New York Islanders are on the outside looking in for a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. Even after Patrick Roy's coaching change last season, the team continues to show that it can't hold leads in the third period and doesn’t have the offence to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference.
The Islanders have one of the older cores in the NHL and are very-much in their “win-now” mode with the way the roster is constructed. Outside of top prospect Oliver Wahlstrom, there isn’t much in the organization in terms of reinforcements coming in the future.
So, what gives? RG spoke to a trusted source on the topic that indicated change is indeed coming on Long Island this season if things don’t turn around.
And it may begin right at the top.
Lou Lamoriello On Borrowed Time?
The Islanders were able to squeak into the playoffs last season, due in large part to a crumbling Metropolitan division and weaker Eastern conference. That force of good luck, combined with the momentum of new head coach Patrick Roy, vaulted the Islanders into playoff contention; before being bested by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.
However, prior to that fortuitous turn of events, before there was a real possibility of a general manager change. According to a source close to RG, the organization was even thinking about changing GMs before the 2023-2024 season started.
"There were people inside the organization that wanted Lamoriello out before the start of last season but were outvoted," a source told RG. "He saved his job with the playoff appearance.”
The Islanders are seemingly at a crossroads, with major contracts needing to b paid out to the likes of Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov and Brock Nelson; all while being under .500.
Under the Lou Lamoriello regime, rebuilding has not been embraced because he feels his teams are never out of the mix for the playoffs. But, if things do not turn around, sources believe the organization may force the issue and become sellers by the NHL Trade Deadline.
"Yes (they will be sellers), but that will only happen if they feel the team is really out of it," the source told RG. "Lamoriello wants to see what happens when everyone is back healthy and in the lineup."
The Islanders are dealing with injuries to key players like Mathew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, Adam Pelech and Mike Reilly. However, even with these players in the lineup, the Islanders were not winning games.
Brock Nelson: Emerging Trade Candidate
Brock Nelson has been one of the most consistent Islanders over the last few years and has stepped up considerably in Barzal’s absence. He already has 10 goals on the season and has been the Islanders’ most impactful forward at even strength.
Contending teams are already circling around him at the moment and waiting for the moment he’s made available again this season, after briefly hitting the trade market last season.
"Nelson was in play last year and could have been moved if the team was not in the wild card mix," the source told RG. "He has value being a consistent 30-goal scorer.
Nelson has a reasonable $6 million cap hit, and when the trade deadline approaches, it will be lower for the potential acquiring team. On top of that, the Islanders would also be able to retain up to 50% of his salary, bringing his base cap hit to $3M; making him one of the most attractive pieces available.
“Contending teams are already eyeing him, especially if the team continues this way,” said the source. “Vancouver was a team that tried to acquire him last year and I think they’d take another shot at him this year."
Currently, it is unclear what teams are interested in Nelson, but there is an expectation that he will draw interest from at least four or five clubs looking to upgrade down the middle.
The source doesn’t believe anything is imminent yet, but the Islanders could execute a swift re-tool if executed correctly, as most of their top players are on the wrong side of 28.
Whether or not Lamoriello will be the one to see it through is another question entirely.
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Jim Biringer
