*Photo from Lighthouse Hockey*
A longtime assistant behind the bench is getting his first shot at the top gig. The New York Islanders have promoted assistant coach Lane Lambert to head coach, according to an announcement made by the Islanders on Monday morning.
Islanders president and GM Lou Lamoriello said of promoting Lambert that "Once the decision was made to make a coaching change, then the total focus was on who would be the best individual to lead this team to where I thought we can get and should get. Lane, without question, was on top of that list from my experiences with him over the past four years."
The head coaching gig with the Islanders will be Lambert's first NHL head coaching job. He has some previous head coaching experience, serving as head coach of the AHL Milwaukee Admirals, affiliates of the Nashville Predators, from 2007 to 2011. Lambert served as interim head coach on a few occasions last season, but now he's got the job full time.
As head coach of the Islanders, Lambert is replacing Barry Trotz, who was let go by the Islanders a week ago, after 4 seasons with the club. Lambert has served as Trotz's top assistant with the Predators, Islanders, and Washington Capitals, winning a Stanley cup in Washington in the 2017-2018 season.
Lambert said Trotz talked to him after he was promoted, saying "He used the words he was thrilled. There's not a lot of mixed emotions from that standpoint because of the conversations I've had with Barry since the season has ended. We have worked well together over the years. We've supported each other and he's supporting me at the moment. We have to look forward from here."
Trotz's firing by the Islanders marked him as the 3rd head coach let go this offseason for non-playoff teams. Lambert is currently the only one to take a vacant opening right now, with the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Winnipeg Jets all looking for head coaches.
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