A Sprinkle Of History & Dash Of Reality In The Isles Soup

IslandersPointblank’s Chris Botta had an excellent reality check to the conjecture that somehow Lombardi was a serious candidate to the Isles. Botta tells the excellent tale of the internal outlook the committee-driven Islanders of those yesteryear…

Let’s add to it:

Lombardi in-turn, had zero interest in the NY Islanders situation.

As a highly regarded GM who put San Jose on the map, Deano had taster’s choice to where he was going to end up. That meant not just full control, but also into an organization that had the right DNA for success.

The NY Islanders attempt to redefine management with a committee system was idiotic, nonproductive, and an embarrassment to the organization and a large example of ownership misstep and misguided on how to run a hockey organization.

Lombardi might have not been a serious candidate for the Islanders mistrust and hearty pinch of ownership hubris…as Botta provides the internal mindset that was there that summer, but it should also be noted that the feeling was quite mutual.

To many GMs, Lombardi being the pick of the litter, not many wanted anything to do with the NY Isles circus despite the willingness to come in for a chat in order to hedge their GM bets.

While Neil Smith came in more “desperate”, he also came in touting a computer  program for ranking players and scouting that was a custom-system. That is what convinced Charles, besides Smith’s assurances to be able to deal with the committee structure, to give him the job.

When Smith “resigned” by his attempt to sign contact DiPietro’s agent to work out a more reasonable deal of 6 years against Charles wishes (we all know how that has went and seems to be working out), it was the fulcrum that Wang used to change the guard, but keep that system with Garth Snow now.

While the NY Islanders still flounder and attempt a rebuild that hopes for a playoff spot next season, LA’s system is rich with talent and starting to create a real mark, holding to the 6th spot in the Western Conference.

The ultimate point that cannot be forgotten through all of this is that the Isles committee system and choices hurt the Islanders and it is why we sit through another unremarkable season where we now wait to see what draft spot we retain.

That the two years to remove that committee system (actually year and a half), is a sad state of affairs and the reason the Isles and fans to await their reemergence. The fact it was dissolved only proves the point to its failure and to why the Isles still wait to turn a corner.