Ever since John Ledecky and Scott Malkin inherited principal ownership of the New York Islanders two years ago, the goal was to carry a once-proud organization back to respectability. The process slowly hit landmarks.
On the ice, the integration of 2015 first-round pick Mathew Barzal was a revelation. The center, along with surprise 40-goal scorer Anders Lee and a dependable Josh Bailey, played an integral role in New York’s offensive awakening last season. Barzal ran away with the Calder Trophy with 85 points.cheap nfl nike jerseys china
Off the ice, the new owners waded through yet another arena impasse and cleared the path for an eventual return to Long Island. The proposed new arena at Belmont Park racetrack won’t open until 2021 at the earliest, but at least there’s now a tangible destination.
Over the past month, the Ledecky and Malkin plan accelerated dramatically. In a series of perfectly aligned events, one of the most respected GMs in the league, Lou Lamoriello, became available thanks to a contract and power squabble in Toronto. Then last week, newly minted Stanley Cup-winning coach Barry Trotz — who, among other great accomplishments, led the Washington Capitals to the league’s best record over the past four seasons — suddenly became a free agent. Again, it was a contract and power struggle. cheap nike nfl jerseys wholesale The Islanders gladly swooped in on both, and all of a sudden, a bright future feels within reach.
“I can tell you this,” Trotz told reporters this week. “When I’ve done my research on the general manager in Lou and the organization, they are fully committed to making this a great franchise, which it has been in the past and it will be again.”
But there is still work to be done. Here are three things New York’s newest power duo needs to do to fix the Isles.
