I Am Defending Lou Lamoriello On The Bo Horvat Trade
What do you want the guy to do? What exactly are the expectations here? Lou Lamoriello is being crushed online for the Bo Horvat trade and I just can’t understand why. I can’t believe I am the one doing it but someone has to do it. I am defending Lou Lamoirello for the Bo Horvat trade.
A: Let me first start by saying that I would have tanked this puppy into oblivion. Ilya Sorokin would have gotten traded for the moon.
B: Lou is literally 80 years old. Not sure that guy has an interest in tanking at that age. Would you tank if you were that old? You only live in the here and now. If you don’t want your general manager making aggressive all-in moves, don’t put an 80-year-old man in charge. He’s simply doing what was asked of him.
C: What exactly was the alternative here? It’s either trying to win or tearing the thing down. Lou is putting his chips in the center of the table and on some level, you have to respect it. Lou wants to win the Stanley Cup so shame on him for trying?
What is David Poile doing in Nashville? What is Brian MacLellan doing in Washington? There are so many teams totally stuck in the middle with no pathway towards success. Lou just put his team back in the mix by acquiring a 30 plus goal scoring and All-Star caliber center and is being crushed for it. Doesn’t that seem harsh?
D: Again… what are the expectations? You’re asking an 80-year-old man to watch this Islanders team every night and for him to not to improve the club? The Islanders have scored more than 3 goals in a game once this season. Horvat has 31 goals through 49 games. New York also ranks 31st in powerplay percentage (15.54%). Should Lou apologize for trying to add a goal scorer to his team?
E: The Islanders can’t be done shopping but it’s not out of the realm of possibility they’re out of it now. They need to make that exact same trade again but this time for another goal scoring winger. Having Ilya Sorokin in net gives you a chance every single night. Just need more offense. This trade accomplishes that.
F: What did they really give up? Bo Horvat is a damn good hockey player. One prospect, a protected first round pick, and a bum Anthony Beauvillier. The problem with that is? Are we really trying to suggest that’s a make or break for the future of the Islanders? Nobody cares about Beauvillier. That guy stinks and has no value.
There’s no point in being in the middle. If the Islanders bottom out because this plan fails… guess what… they’re now in a spot to land premium young talent at the top of the draft instead of being in the middle. A significantly better alternative regardless of whether this plan works for fails. Sure, it was rough for the Devils for a few years but they have Jack Hughes now sooo.
At least Lou Lamiorello had the balls to pick up the phone and make his team better. Go beat up on the idiot that’s running the Florida Panthers that essentially gave up that same package for Ben Chiarot. Leave Lou alone. He’s an old man trying to win and you’re blasting him for it. It’s a hail mary but at least he’s trying. Not sure I can say the same for half the league.
