Lou Lamoriello's recent departure from the New York Islanders marks a pivotal moment in NHL management, contrasting sharply with Kyle Dubas's tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins. While Lamoriello is a Hall of Fame executive with multiple Stanley Cups under his belt, Dubas's record is less illustrious, having only led his teams to one playoff series victory. This juxtaposition raises questions about the choices made by Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan back in 2018 when he opted for Dubas over Lamoriello.

Both executives now find themselves managing underwhelming teams, watching the Leafs lead the Eastern Conference playoffs without them. As Lamoriello's Islander teams struggled to find elite talent after John Tavares's departure, the decision not to aggressively rebuild raises concerns about his ability to adapt to modern NHL dynamics. The future for Lamoriello seems uncertain, prompting speculation on whether his traditional methods could still yield success in today’s game.