In Elmont, the New York Islanders moved quickly to fill the head coaching position that was vacant after firing of Barry Trotz earlier i the month.
The Islanders missed the playoffs, after a slow start, injuries, and too big a hole to climb out of.
Associate coach under Trotz, Lane Lambert, was hired on Monday to fill the position.
“I had the opportunity to work with Lane over the past four years, which includes spending time with him on a one-on-one basis when he served as the interim head coach this past season,” Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said on NHL.com. “In my opinion, he is the right person to coach this team.”
Lambert was assistant coach with Trotz in Washington when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup over the Vegas Golden Knights.
“Certainly, I think the record over these past four years speaks for itself as far as what Barry has done and we are very much appreciative of that,” Lamoriello said. “I certainly am, personally and professionally. As I said, these types of decisions are made for going forward, and I think that with this group we have, and they are on notice right now, that the new voice is what’s necessary for us to have success in my opinion.”
Lambert stood in for Trotz on three games this season while the head coach was on NHL COVID-19 protocol. He won all three matches.
“Any type of a decision like this doesn’t happen overnight,” Lamoriello said. “It’s over a period of time and certainly all the extenuating circumstances that transpired this year, uncontrollable by everyone or anyone, is taken into consideration. But I’d rather not get into any of the reasons because that’s my job, the information that I have and I experienced, to make these types of decisions. This is certainly a business decision as far as hockey and winning.”
The Isles were 37-35-10 this season and missed the post season for the first time in four years.
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