Oddly enough, the New York Islanders had to plunge into mediocrity after John Tavares left.
Remember the saga of the center player. Will he stay on Long Island or will he pursue his career under other skies? You couldn’t imagine the Islanders without Tavares. Without the captain of a concession which, let’s face it, was still slow to take off. He spent nine seasons in suburban New York and only three times did he lead the team to a playoff appearance.
His departure, however, represented a heavy loss for this concession. But, as contract talks continued, the Islanders were making major changes in decision-makers.
The ruse of Lamoriello
Good old Lou Lamoriello, driven out of Toronto to make way for a young man, Kyle Dubas, put both hands on the rudder of the company. First important decision: to welcome Barry Trotz who had just won the Stanley Cup in Washington. Then the Tavares folder. Lamoriello is cunning. He knew his chances of convincing the center player were slim if not zero. Therefore, he devoted himself to what he could control. In negotiations, he is tough, but he also knows how to reward players who respect the responsibilities entrusted to them.
The results are staggering.
The Islanders have reached the second and fourth (including qualifying round) rounds of the playoffs in the first two seasons under the Lamoriello / Trotz regime, and here they are in the four aces and ready to face the defending champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, for the second time in as many seasons. Last year they lost in six games.
All the while, John Tavares and the Maple Leafs still haven’t made it past the first round. This season, Tavares has been unlucky finding himself on the sidelines in the series opener against the Canadiens.
Lamoriello and Trotz were never disturbed by Tavares’ decision. On the contrary, they assembled a group which quickly embarked on the management philosophy of Trotz. After all, the coach had just won the Stanley Cup in Washington and he quickly convinced he had a plan to accommodate the roster already in place.
Wednesday night, they eliminated the Bruins, decimated by injuries, Bruins who too often seemed out of breath. Trotz is in his 22nd season as a head coach. He got off to a rather modest start with an expansion squad, the Nashville Predators, where he spent 15 seasons. Then, he managed Alexander Ovechkin for four years, helping the Russian player ultimately win a first Stanley Cup.
What he has accomplished so far clearly shows that he is in perfect control. He has built a defensive brigade that reflects very well the system he advocates. He asked his CEO for help and Lamoriello was quick to take action with the acquisitions of Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Travis Zajac, Andy Greene, and Kyle Palmieri. And the Islanders quickly rose through the ranks.
Did they meet the standards to worry the Tampa Bay Lightning? Not yet, at least the Lightning is a rival with no flaws in its structure. But, each season, the Islanders progress …
The Bruins: disturbing …
This is not the case for the Bruins and the last series against the Islanders is a serious warning to the decision-makers of the organization. In recent years, we have had nothing to do with recruiting. We have very poorly evaluated the free agents. And, we made deals that went wrong.
The Bruins will need to be far-sighted in the offseason. Tuukka Rask is expected to leave the team. Dave Krejci as well. In terms of the salary cap, the two players total $ 14 million. We can therefore ask ourselves the question: will the Bruins be among the teams interested in participating in the Jack Eichel derby?
Seriously, do they really have a choice?
For now, there is no relief from the Bruins. Patrice Bergeron is now 35 years old. He fulfills his role perfectly, but is asked to constantly compete with the best in his profession. So far he has kept up the pace, but will the task be tougher in the coming seasons? Is there a center player who can take on great responsibility for the Bruins? Capable of coming to support Bergeron’s actions? Capable of reducing the tasks given to the team captain?
The answer is no.
Eichel had a great career with Boston University and he would be a logical choice under the circumstances. But can the Bruins meet the demands of the Buffalo Sabers? Do they have the manpower to get the attention of Kevyn Adams, the general manager of the Sabers?
We doubt it.
The first hints of a team heading down a slippery slope surely did not escape Don Sweeney, the general manager of training, and chairman Cam Neely.
In the series against the Islanders, Bruins support staff scored just one goal. Only one in six games. The team needs a change in the management philosophy of the company.
Over the years, the Canadiens and the Bruins have fueled a rivalry that stretches back years. It could change over the next few seasons. While the Habs are heading in the right direction, the Bruins have taken an avenue that leads them directly into a cul-de-sac.
