New York Islanders
Islanders’ Lou Lamoriello Named a Finalist for GM of the Year Award
New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was named a finalist for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award, the NHL announced on Wednesday.
The award is voted on by each NHL general manager and the winner will be announced on Saturday ahead of the start of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois and Dallas general manager Jim Nill were also named as finalists.
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Lou Lamoriello is in the second year as president of hockey operations and general manager of the Islanders. This is the second consecutive year that an Islanders coach or executive has been named a finalist for an award.
Last year, Barry Trotz won his second Jack Adams Award of his career.
The Islanders have seen steady improvement since Lamoriello took the helm of the Islanders. In his first year with the organization, The Isles went to the Second Round of the playoffs and are currently in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 27 years.
The Islanders series victory over Philadelphia in the Second Round was Lamoriello’s 29th series win as general manager and moved him to second in league history behind Glen Sather, who has 41.
Lou Lamoriello’s deadline acquisitions have also become a contributing factor in the Islanders’ postseason success this year. Andy Greene has become a steadying mainstay on the blue line since Johnny Boychuk went down with an injury in the Qualifying Round. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has proved his worth on special teams, offensively and in the faceoff circle.
Lamoriello won three Stanley Cup championships during his time as general manager of the New Jersey Devils in 1995. 2000 and 2003. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.