The Islanders have fewer points than the Canadiens, and I believe I’ve found the best way to illustrate how challenging the Islanders’ start has been.
Even though New York has one game in hand over the Canadiens, they are currently earning points at a rate of .444 (eight points in nine games), while the Canadiens have a slightly better rate at .450 (nine points in ten games). The key difference between the teams lies in their expectations. Lou Lamoriello didn’t bring in Patrick Roy just to be part of the competition; he did it to reach the playoffs and secure victories, even with a less-than-ideal roster. Consequently, Lamoriello is actively looking for solutions, which is evident in Pierre Engvall’s return to New York—a significant decision, to say the least—and the growing tension between Roy and Lamoriello. Even if Roy tried to downplay the situation, a coach publicly calling out his general manager is rarely a positive sign.
It’s evident that something is not right in New York, even if we can’t pinpoint the exact issue—it’s reflected in their performance on the ice. Roy points out that confidence isn’t something you can just purchase—it’s a quality missing from his team. With that perspective, I noticed a tweet from David Pagnotta that stood out. He mentioned that while it’s still early in the season, the Islanders need to improve quickly or changes will be necessary. He also noted that frustration is growing on Long Island.
https://twitter.com/TheFourthPeriod/status/1851645534181765397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1851645534181765397%7Ctwgr%5E9f6f6790fc067c71f971c76eb611caff2e5fa017%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdose.ca%2F2024%2F10%2F30%2Fislanders-cant-keep-changing-coaches%2F
Lou Lamoriello is well-known for his willingness to switch coaches. If he believes that Roy isn’t the solution, could he hesitate to make a change? I don’t expect anything to happen soon, but it’s something to consider.
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