Lamoriello Believes in Isles Roster After Trade Deadline

The New York Islanders kept their roster intact on Monday, opting to stand pat at the NHL trade deadline on Monday.
General Manager Lou Lamoriello said he believed in his team as currently constructed and that he wasn't willing to sell off future assets just for the sake of making a move, or to answer the flurry of moves from divisional rivals.

"We weren't going to get into a situation where we sacrificed what our plan is because we feel very good about this hockey team," Lamoriello said. "You don't do something just for the sake of doing it. We're extremely pleased at where we are. This is a collective group that has done an outstanding job together. Our focus is just to go forward with it."
FULL LIST OF TRANSACTIONS AT TRADE DEADLINE
The Islanders arrived at the deadline with a 36-18-7 record, good for first place in the Metropolitan Division, which Lamoriello said even exceeded his preseason optimism for the team.
The General Manager did not want to subtract major pieces out of the lineup that's come together as the league's tightest defensive team. As of Feb. 25, the Islanders have allowed the fewest goals in the league (146 including SO winners), buying into a team concept. Only two Islanders, Ryan Pulock and Nick Leddy, average over 20 minutes per game, while only two forwards, Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal, average over 18 minutes per night.
"You have to be extremely careful at this time because whenever you add somebody, it takes away from somebody else and somebody moves at a different spot," Lamoriello said. "In our opinion, whatever we potentially could have done would not have been the best thing."

While the Islanders did not acquire any players from outside the organization, they are getting reinforcements in the form of Thomas Hickey and Andrew Ladd. Ladd, who's been out since Nov. 13 with a lower-body injury, and Hickey, out since Dec. 17 with an upper-body injury, were both regulars in the lineup before their respective ailments and are seen as de facto acquisitions in the eyes of Lamoriello.
Both players are nearing returns, potentially as soon as Tuesday's game against the Calgary Flames.
"We have two players who are regulars for us who came off the injured list, so they'll be available and also help the development of our whole group as a whole," Lamoriello said.
Head Coach Barry Trotz also gave his team a vote of confidence on the morning of the trade deadline.
"Everybody who is here right now deserves the opportunity to stay," Trotz said. "We've done a good job as a collective group. Our strength is our group."

Lamoriello said the Isles focus has to shift to the final 21 games of the season. Despite being in first place, the Islanders are not assured of a playoff berth and their 1-1-1 road trip through Alberta was a reminder of what happens when they both stay with and stray from their defensive structure.
The GM said there's still lots of work to be done, but ultimately, he trusts this group to do it.
"When you play well, you get rewarded for playing well and our team has done that," Lamoriello said. "Hopefully they see the trust and confidence that we have in them."