The New York Islanders announced today that the team named Lane Lambert as their head coach, succeeding the previously fired Barry Trotz.
Lambert is an internal promotion, having served as an associate coach with the team since the 2018-19 season. Lambert’s led a long career as both a player and coach, also serving as an assistant coach under Trotz for both the Nashville Predators (2011-2014) and Washington Capitals (2014-2018). Lambert’s last experience as a head coach came with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals from 2007-2011.
Lambert actually took over as the team’s head coach for a few games midseason while Trotz was away from the team on a personal leave of absence. He’s the uncle of top 2022 draft prospect Brad Lambert. He becomes the 18th person to coach the Islanders and the fourth in the past 10 years.
Under Lambert, the Islanders look to return to their winning ways after missing the playoffs by 16 points this season. The team had advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in the previous two seasons. Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said the following today regarding his hiring:
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. In my opinion, he is the right person to coach this team.
Lambert was a candidate of interest for many teams around the league for head coaching roles. PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan reported today that Lambert was a candidate for the Arizona Coyotes’ coaching vacancy last season before the team decided to opt for Andre Tourigny.
It’s a large cloud moved off the Islanders’ offseason, as they’re able to move forward into the draft and free agency with their situation settled behind the bench.
So the Islanders wanted to change the voice in the locker room. So they hired one of the voices that they wanted to change.
idk about you but i would certainly do things different then my boss if i had the chance
following trotz orders was his job
Trotz has the last laff! How much of a voice and system change is it to have Barry’s side kick to now be in charge? Is Lane going to be Lou’s lapdog? I hope not!
Don Granato was a assistant coach under Ralph Krueger 2 seasons ago. They have coached the Sabres totally different in their tenures.
Parise needs to retire. He played for Minnesota and the team was lackadaisical. He gets with the Islanders and their play is lackadaisical. Sometimes one guy can really influence the locker room. Take Drouin. He plays for Tampa and the team has all kinds of distractions. He goes to Montreal and they were losing the whole 2021 year. He drops out and the Habs make a run to the Cup finals. Trotz is a good coach. His defense style has stifled many teams for years. Defense and Goaltending wins cups.
Praise isn’t the problem.he is a third line player on a good contract that produces good points.that is exactly why he was resigned.islanders lost alot of close games because of OLD and SLOW defense and lack of a top notch scorer.their secondary scoring is ok