It’s Lou Lamoriello’s world, we’re just living in it.
Prior to puck drop for game five of the Vegas Golden Knights vs Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Semi-Finals series, the NHL announced that New York Islanders General Manager, Lou Lamoriello has won the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.
Montreal’s Marc Bergevin and Florida’s Bill Zito finished as runners-up,
This marks the second consecutive year that Lamoriello has taken home GM of the Year honours. As if the three-time Stanley Cup champion didn’t already have enough accolades under his belt, this year’s win makes him the first general manager to win the award in back-to-back years, and the second to score consecutive nominations since Anaheim’s Bob Murray did so from 2012-13 to 2014-15.
Of the three finalists, Lamoriello certainly had the best case for victory.
The Islanders currently sit just two wins away from a birth in the Stanley Cup Final, with Lamoriello watching the team he built fight their way to the semi-finals in back-to-back years. This year’s success is greatly spurred by Lamoriello’s aggressive moves at the trade deadline, during which he acquired both Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the New Jersey Devils, who each fill important roles for their new team.
In his three seasons on Long Island, Lamoriello has a combined regular-season record of 115-67-24.
And despite earning this award, Lamoriello may just end up with an even bigger trophy on his mantle in a few weeks’ time.
