Isles GM Lou Lamoriello says he knows the team needs to get younger — but how will they accomplish that this offseason?

Noah Dobson’s name had been flying around social media, with the defenseman rumored to be on the move, when news broke about a month ago that he had switched agents and now would be represented by Wasserman Sports.

Islanders president Lou Lamoriello made one trade at the NHL trade deadline. But more than just Brock Nelson needed to go.

The Sharks outshot the Islanders 20-8 in the first period, but still trailed 2-0 after allowing a power-play goal to Anthony Duclair on a tipped puck and an even-strength goal to Jean-Gabriel Pageau with 39 seconds left before intermission. The Sharks also went 2-for-4 on the penalty kill as they lost the opener of an eight-game homestand.

The head vs. heart calculus which has tugged at the Islanders’ decision-making, or lack thereof, over the last month finally hit an inflection point.

Although the New York Islanders weren’t quite as busy as many believed at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, moving on from longtime forward Brock Nelson but otherwise standing pat, general manager Lou Lamoriello made it clear that many more changes will be coming in the offseason.