Lou Lamoriello will not return as Islanders GM in 2025-26

A big front office shakeup on Long Island.

On Tuesday, the New York Islanders announced that Lou Lamoriello would not renew the contract of Lou Lamoriello as president and general manager.

In a statement from the team, the Islanders thanked Lamoriello for his work with the organization.

“The Islanders extend a heartfelt thank you to Lou Lamoriello for his extraordinary commitment over the past seven years. His dedication to the team is in line with his Hall of Fame career.”

The note also confirmed that operating partner John Collins will lead the search for the team’s next general manager, effective immediately.

The 82-year-old has been with the Islanders since 2018, taking on the roles of GM and president after spending three years working for his former player, Brendan Shanahan, with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Lamoriello’s return to the New York market was met with immediate success. In 2019, the Isles made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That was followed up by back-to-back trips to the Eastern Conference Final in 2020 and 2021, where the Islanders were knocked out by the eventual champion Tampa Bay Lightning, including a tough Game 7 loss in 2021.

While the team missed the playoffs in 2021-22, the Islanders qualified for the postseason in 2023 and 2024, though they were promptly knocked out in the Metropolitan Division Semifinals by the Carolina Hurricanes both times.

The Isles came up short from making it three straight trips to the playoffs this year, just the second time in Lamoriello’s tenure that has occurred. Many have questioned the Hockey Hall of Famer’s methods in building the team, as the Islanders haven’t looked like a team that could make deep run for the past four years.

Under Lamoriello, the Isles made the playoffs five times, posting a regular-season record of 268-194-72.

Prior to Toronto and New York, Lamoriello built his Hall of Fame resume during his 28 years as GM of the New Jersey Devils, leading the team from being a doormat to winning three Stanley Cups.