This past season, New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello signed Leo Komarov to a four-year deal. Komarov was signed to be a veteran presence and bottom-six checker.
Komarov wasn’t signed by the Islanders in hopes that he would magically become a player that could surpass 30 points, which he has only done twice in his six-year career.
He was signed by the Islanders to be a defensive-minded forward that could help reinvent a team that gave up the most goals during the prior season.
Komarov did just that.
Playing in every game this season, “Uncle Leo” had an average time-on-ice (ATOI) of just 13:53 – the lowest of his career.