The New York Islanders are in need of a top-line winger and weren’t able to bring on in during free agency. Target Artemi Panarin signed with the New York Rangers, leaving Lou and his $12.5 million contract offer sitting there thinking: “now what?”
With most of the quality in the free-agent market now gone, Lou Lamoriello is going to have to use the NHL’s trade market to strengthen his roster. It’s the only way he’s going to be able to add a bona fide NHL caliber top-six forward.
He can turn to the youth in his system, but there’s no guarantee that any of the kids in the system are top-six talents.