10 candidates to replace Lou Lamoriello as Islanders GM

Frank Seravalli
Frank Seravalli(frank_seravalli)
Apr 23, 2025, 15:21 EDT
Ken Holland
Credit: Ken Holland

October could mark the end of an unforgettable era, potentially the first time Lou Lamoriello is not sitting in the chair as an NHL general manager since 1987. It’s a position he has held consecutively for 37 seasons, until the New York Islanders notified him that they will not be renewing his contract, which is an impressive stat line on his Hall of Fame career.

The Islanders’ opening may be the only one of this offseason, which is not a surprise since more than one-third of the league’s managers (12) have turned over within the last two calendar years.

So, who is on the list to potentially replace Lamoriello? This is a very attractive job, not just for the scarcity, but because it is a team in a major market with deep-pocketed owners who aren’t afraid to spend, a passionate fanbase, and a roster with positional boxes already checked at goaltender, defense and center.

Here are 10 names to chew on:

The Hall of Famer

KEN HOLLAND
The Islanders can bring in a second straight Hall of Famer to their front office. Holland, 69, is 13 years younger than Lamoriello and has his name etched on Lord Stanley one more than Lamoriello’s three. More importantly: Holland was two goals away last spring from a fifth Stanley Cup victory in Edmonton, and how sweet that would’ve been with a second franchise. Holland is prime to lead a club as president, where he can hire a GM and mentor and oversee the process with his hands on the wheel. Plus, last time we saw him in December, he admitted he’s “not sure” he loves a stress-free existence. This hockey lifer is wired to work.

Looking for a Rebound

MARC BERGEVIN
Very quietly, Bergevin has been a big part of the Los Angeles Kings’ front office for four seasons now since his dismissal in Montréal. He held down one of the toughest jobs in the game for a full decade with the Canadiens, taking bullets in two languages, as the Habs advanced to a Stanley Cup Final and Conference Final. Bergevin, 59, played two seasons in an Islander uniform. He’s also ready to lead a team again. The only thing that may hold him back is a ready-made opportunity in Los Angeles if Rob Blake decides to step down after this season, as Blake is in the final year of his contract.

PETER CHIARELLI
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Chiarelli at the post, and probably for good reason. It didn’t end well in Edmonton in 2019, setting the Oilers back a bit, which required significant correcting by Holland. But Chiarelli, 60, is experienced, has a Stanley Cup pedigree, and has been diligently grinding away in St. Louis as senior vice president under Doug Armstrong since 2021. One thing to know about Chiarelli: He has the support of top NHL brass and he frequently lands interviews on recommendation, putting himself in the mix.

JARMO KEKALAINEN
On one hand, some would say that 11 full years as an NHL general manager is certainly enough of a runway. And Kekalainen, 58, led the Columbus Blue Jackets to one (shocking) playoff round win in 11 years (2013-2024) before he was dismissed last February. On the other hand, some would say that Kekalainen deserves a second chance in a market that isn’t Columbus. He is a scout first and foremost and his draft record is excellent. The tougher part for him in Columbus was that if he developed players properly, most didn’t stay long-term. Would it be different in New York?

DOUG WILSON
This one will surprise a few people, but Wilson might generate some significant interest on Long Island to course correct the Islanders. Wilson, now 67, stepped down from his position with the San Jose Sharks in 2022 to focus on his health after a significant health scare. But he’s in good health now, and he’s been quietly putting in the work with the Pittsburgh Penguins as senior advisor to Kyle Dubas. That isn’t a no-show job. Wilson has actually been working and accompanied the Penguins on the road for a two-week trip that wrapped around the deadline so that Dubas could manage the roster.

The New Blood

MATHIEU DARCHE
It seems like only a matter of ‘where’ and not ‘when’ Darche will get an opportunity to run an NHL club. Julien BriseBois’ understudy in Tampa Bay has been interviewed and advanced as a finalist for at least two or three other openings in recent cycles, putting him squarely on the radar. He’s helped the Lightning to two Stanley Cups and has been trained in just about every facet of the front office. The 48-year-old Quebecois is sharp, knowledgeable and hungry.

EVAN GOLD
With so much turbulence in the Boston Bruins‘ season, Gold may not end up on many public lists, but he’s a name that hockey executives around the league are talking about. The Bruins’ assistant GM, 45, helps GM Don Sweeney in all Boston’s day-to-day operations, from salary cap and contract negotiations to CBA compliance and player acquisition, and Gold manages Boston’s AHL affiliate in Providence. He began with the Bruins in 2015 as Director of Legal Affairs and has earned a stellar reputation as someone to deal with.

RYAN MARTIN
There isn’t much in hockey that Martin hasn’t done – aside from becoming an NHL general manager. Over the last two decades in the league, he’s worked in just about every facet, from scouting to salary cap, and he’s done it in multiple organizations. He was an assistant GM in Detroit for a decade, the same role that he holds now under Chris Drury with the New York Rangers across the river. He has also been GM of the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack and the Team USA Men’s National Team (2022 Worlds), and has served as both a player agent and corporate attorney. He is unquestionably qualified.

KEVIN McDONALD
It’s possible that McDonald has the most non-traditional path to this list, even though he might’ve been working in the league longer than anyone on it. He began his career in the New York Rangers’ communications department. In 1994, he transitioned to pro scout, where he remained until 2000. Then he moved to the same role with the St. Louis Blues, eventually being promoted to assistant GM in a run that lasted 22 years and brought the Blues their first Stanley Cup. He’s been Assistant GM in Colorado for the last three seasons. The Massachusetts native is a standout talent evaluator.

BRANDON PRIDHAM
The prevailing thought around the NHL is that the Toronto Maple Leafs have “golden handcuffs” on Pridham, who is believed to be the highest-paid non-GM executive working for a club. He’s been with the Leafs for 11 years now, first joining as Special Assistant to the GM, then promoted to Assistant GM, where he’s truly been a magician with the cap. Brendan Shanahan has heaped praise on Pridham, saying free agency and the trade deadline wouldn’t be possible to navigate without him. Pridham also spent 15 years working for the NHL in Central Registry and Central Scouting. Will the Islanders come calling? Would he be interested?

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