By WFAN.com
Lou Lamoriello is excited for the upcoming season with the Islanders, even though franchise player John Tavares has left for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Tavares agreed to a seven-year, $77-million deal with Toronto this past Sunday, leaving the Islanders for his hometown team.
Though Tavares decided to leave New York, Lamoriello claims the Islanders made every effort to keep him.
"First of all, we did everything I think we possibly could to keep John," Lamoriello said Thursday on SiriusXM NHL Network. "He's been an exceptional player for the Islanders. But he now is with another team so that's the past."
The Islanders reportedly offered Tavares an eight-year contract worth $11.25-million per-year.
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Though the Islanders' former franchise player has departed for Toronto, Lamoriello made clear he does not anticipate a full rebuild under new head coach Barry Trotz.
"What we're doing right now is trying to get knowledge of who we are and learning more about each and every one of the players we have here."
Lamoriello, who oversaw a large-scale rebuild while serving as the general manager in Toronto, noted that the situation in New York is not as dire.
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"In Toronto, we had to really break it right down and get to the core and see who wanted to be a part of it," Lamoriello said. "There is more talent here at this given time from the original core. So I think that it's different. It's not a break down. It's really finding out exactly how high the level is of the players you do have here. There's a couple of exceptional hockey players here in my opinion as far as their talent."
The Islanders roster is not void of talent, highlighted by 21-year-old Matt Barzal, who tallied 22 goals and 63 assists and earned the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year.
Lamoriello aims to create a strong team in New York that will foster a winning culture.
"Individual players win games but teams win championships," Lamoriello said.
