"We're not concerned right now," the Islanders general manager told Newsday.
The Islanders, who have split home games between Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center since last season, are scheduled to play in their new home in the 2021-22 season.
The project broke ground on the Belmont Park site in East Elmont, New York, on Sept. 23, 2019. On March 28, construction was paused when Gov. Andrew Cuomo expanded a temporary shutdown of nonessential projects due to concerns surrounding the pandemic.
The Islanders issued a statement in support of that decision. They are expected to play all of their home games in 2020-21 at Nassau Coliseum.
New York had six home games remaining (two at Barclays Center, the final four at Nassau Coliseum) when the NHL season was paused March 12. It was previously announced that the Islanders would play any Stanley Cup Playoff home games at the Coliseum.
Lamoriello told the newspaper that defenseman Johnny Boychuk (facial laceration) and forward Casey Cizikas (left-leg laceration) likely would be ready to return when the season resumes. Boychuk, who was injured March 3, missed the final three games prior to the pause; Cizikas missed 13 games after he was injured Feb. 11. The GM said defenseman Adam Pelech may begin skating again soon; he has been out since sustaining an Achilles tendon injury Jan. 2.
Lamoriello,
who said last month
that any offer sheet for pending restricted free agent Mathew Barzal would be matched, said any negotiations with Barzal or pending restricted free agent defensemen Ryan Pulock and Devon Toews likely would not take place until after the season.
"We want them back and will do everything we can to get that done at the right time," Lamoriello said. "There are so many unknowns right now. … What will happen with the [NHL salary] cap? What will happen with the payroll for next year? All those things have to be kept in your mind."
The Islanders (35-23-10), who lost seven straight games prior to the pause (0-3-4), are one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets for the two wild cards into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
"I'm extremely optimistic that we will play at some time as far as this season," Lamoriello said. "Whether it's in June, whether it's in July, whether it's in August, I'm not thinking about that. I'm just thinking, in my mind, knowing that we will play and using this time to get ready for that."
