Fear of New York Islanders Lou Lamoriello preventing a Mathew Barzal offer sheet

Almost every year there are rumors that someone will offer sheet a restricted free agent. And almost every year we don’t get one. There’s plenty of reasons why not including cap space, compensation, and fear of being put on fellow NHL GM’s “naughty list”.

Well in the case of New York Islanders Mathew Barzal we may have to add one more.

Lou Lamoriello strikes fear in the hearts of other GMs

In a new mailbag feature by Eric Duhatschek of The Athletic, he was asked why no offer sheet for a player like Mat Barzal. Here was part of his response:

In Mathew Barzal’s case, it’s probably because so many GMs fear the wrath of Lou Lamoriello. Just kidding. Sort of. Seriously, though, which current general manager would risk running afoul of Lamoriello, the Islanders’ steely-eyed Hall of Famer? I’m going to suggest: None. Lamoriello commands both a healthy level of respect — and fear — from his peer group. 

The Athletic

As amusing and maybe tongue-in-cheek as it is, there really is a ring of truth to it. Lou Lamoriello simply put commands respect throughout NHL circles. That goes from league management all the way to the U.S. National Development program.

When it comes to anyone thinking about trying to offer sheet Barzal, well Lou Lamoriello himself issued a warning. “It is our intention to not allow it to get to that point,” he declared. “Should that happen, the answer is yes [he would match].”

RELATED: Islanders close to signing Barzal?

Lou Lamoriello plays by his own set of rules

The 2020 GM of the year took over the Islanders in 2018, lost John Tavares in free agency and still got his team to the Conference Finals. When he was hired he let go of GM Garth Snow and coach Doug Weight citing the need for a “culture change”.

He has “rules”, one of them is not talking to the media or leaking information about the inner workings of the club. Furthermore, he has his own set of rules and other GMs don’t appreciate it very much. Like when he was yet hired by the Islanders but was allowed to meet with Tavares.

“But some people just laugh and they know, we’ve always known there’s a set of rules for Lou Lamoriello, and there’s a set of rules for everybody else,” Elliotte Friedman said. “I asked the league, I said is there a problem here, and I was told no. But I’ll tell you, some of those other teams are just going nuts.”

Now ask yourself, how many of them publicly spoke out against Lamoriello? To my knowledge not a single one.