Welcome to another edition of NHL rumours from us here at Last Word on Hockey. The New York Islanders are in the market for a new general manager to lead them into the future. This comes with the contract of the current general manager and president of hockey operations, Lou Lamoriello, about to expire in June. The decision has been made, as the Islanders reportedly expected not to renew his deal, leaving a vacancy. The search for his successor to run the club from behind the desk has been ongoing. Frank Servalli reports today that the Islanders completed a second interview with Marc Bergevin for the opening. As always, our rumours come straight from the source and subject to change as the latest information shakes down.
Hearing Marc Bergevin had a second interview with #isles for their GM vacancy, as their detailed process remains ongoing.
Potentially big week for Islanders.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 19, 2025
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Islanders Interview Marc Bergevin
Servalli also reported that sources suggest it is a two-horse race between Bergevin and Mathieu Darche for the job. However, today, only Bergevin was interviewed by the hiring staff with the Islanders organization. Bergevin, who is currently an adviser for the Los Angeles Kings, was also a former general manager for the Montreal Canadiens. Not to mention his 20-year career as a player in the NHL as a journeyman defecseman. As the head decision-maker in Montreal for ten years, he finished his tenure with a 344-265-81 record. This tenure was highlighted by a miracle run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. He finished second in voting for the General Manager of the Year award for the 2013–14 season, and again in the 2020–21 season. Therefore, it isn’t hard to tell he is well suited for an NHL lead management role.
Important Decision for the Islanders
Simply put, this is a decision that the Islanders just have to get right. Whoever takes the job will have some big shoes to fill. The 82-year-old Lamoriello has served in both the Islanders’ president of hockey operations and general manager positions since 2018. He helped bring the team back to relevance and provided stability in the front office for the first time in a long time. During his time, the Islanders went to the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs five times, including a conference final appearance in 2020. However, after back-to-back first-round exits, followed by not making the playoffs this past season, a change was needed.
Now, the Islanders are steadfast at looking towards the future. They currently hold the number one pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. Furthermore, they have plenty of cap space to work with as well. This is all in addition to an exciting core of Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat and Ilya Sorokin. These big three are under contract for the foreseeable future. In contrast, restricted free agent Noah Dobson will be one the new GM’s top priorities. With young prospects like Cole Eiserman and Calum Ritchie waiting in the wings, the Islanders’ opening is an intriguing one. The pressure is now on ownership to get who they feel is the right guy for the job in the building.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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