Isles' Lou Lamoriello likely working phones as trade deadline nears
Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello watches his team on the ice during training camp at Northwell Health Ice Center on Sept. 15. Credit: Newsday /Howard Simmons
EDMONTON, Alberta — There are, of course, no spy cameras in Lou Lamoriello’s Long Island office. But no sneak peek is necessary to speculate that the Islanders’ president and general manager is on the telephone even more now.
The NHL trade deadline is Monday. The Senators are holding potential rental forwards Matt Duchene, Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel out of their lineup as a precaution, the Devils are doing the same with left wing Marcus Johansson, and the Panthers asked forward Mike Hoffman for a 10-team no-trade list.
It’s strongly believed that Lamoriello is in on discussions to acquire an impact forward who can bolster the power play.
Lamoriello remained on Long Island and did not accompany the Islanders on their three-game Western Canada swing.
Leddy OK
Defenseman Nick Leddy was sent into concussion protocol at 17:38 of the first period after taking an illegal check to the head from Oilers center Connor McDavid. Leddy returned to the ice at 1:25 of the second period.
“He’s bent over and he takes a hit to the head,” coach Barry Trotz said. “I’m not going to comment on it. The league will look at it. If it warrants anything, they’ll look at it.”
McDavid has been fined once by the NHL and has never been suspended.
That ‘scoundrel’
After his team’s optional morning skate, Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock declined to reveal his lineup, not wanting to give Trotz any advantage.
“I don’t trust that Trotz,” Hitchcock said, with a smile. “He’s a scoundrel.”
The two are longtime friends.
Trotz also rarely discloses his lineup decisions before the game. “We’re a lot alike, we just are,” Trotz said. “He’s a good man.”
Isles files
The Islanders scored two power-play goals for the fourth time and the first time in 19 games . . . D Ryan Pulock, with two assists, had his third multi-assist game . . . C Mathew Barzal was a minus-3 and went 0-for-5 on faceoffs . . . In Bridgeport, Connecticut, Sound Tigers right wing Josh Ho-Sang told The Athletic that he is “not opposed” to being traded if Lamoriello deems that the best course to improve the Islanders. Ho-Sang, 23, the 28th overall pick in 2014, is an impending restricted free agent . . . The Islanders do not have a practice scheduled on Friday.
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Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
