The Verdict

The hottest topic right not now is whether to hang on to Lou. I am not saying there is a chance of this happening, just that there is a lot of discussion. Let me emphasize this again: there is no way Lou's job is in jeopardy. 

I will give three reasons to keep Lou. I will then have a rebuttal. I am playing the devil's advocate.

1. The Thirteen-Game Road Trip

A 13-game road trip was a rough way to start the year. The Islanders never recovered from the road trip. Name another team that had to start on the road for 13 straight. They never got into a rhythm, never got off on the right foot. It takes time for a team to meld; the process does not happen overnight. A couple of bad games should not mean Lou loses his job. 

Rebuttal

The Isles knew about the 13-game road trip before the season started. That is just an excuse for how bad the team is. They are responsible for the games. If Lou cannot bring a team who can handle a little hardship, what good is he to us? If this team is not good enough to make the playoffs, that is on Lou. 

2. Acquisitions

The Islanders need a leader with a cup ring on his finger—a veteran who knows how to win. Lou signed a Chara. Chara is the perfect mentor for a young and upcoming defence core like the Isles. The next thing in Lou's eyes is we needed a third-line help. One of the biggest complaints was that the Isles did not have a third line. Lou went out to fix that, signing Zach Parise—who can score the odd goal—and lit a fire under his linemates' butts.    

Rebuttal

At first blush, it looks like Lou is filling holes in the lineups. However, if you look closely, you will see that the team is one of the oldest in the league. It is like a baker hiding day-old bread among the fresh loaves hoping no one will notice. Unfortunately, other teams saw and used speed to their advantage. This often put the Isles on the wrong side of two-on-ones and three-on-twos. 

3. Palmieri

Kyle Palmieri was the perfect signing for the Islanders, keeping a star in the fold. The Isles could not afford to lose Kyle to free agency. Great job by Lou.

Rebuttal

Yes, we needed to try to retain Palmieri, but not at the expense of Barzal, a top-line winger. This has been a weakness in the Islanders lineup for the last two years, if not more. Lou has failed to fill it. 

Last Word

There you have it, is Lou innocent, or does he hang? You decide.

Randy