NHL notebook: Lamoriello to reportedly joins Isles

Talks between Lamoriello and the Islanders about a role with the team began
earlier this month, according to a Sportsnet report on May 11. Lamoriello was
transitioned out of his general manager job with the Toronto Maple Leafs in
late April to become a senior advisor, which he reportedly was not satisfied
with. The Maple Leafs have since named Kyle Dubas their new GM.

The Islanders have missed the playoffs the last two seasons and currently
employ Lamoriello's son Chris as an assistant GM. Garth Snow, the team's
current GM, said after the season that he felt his job was secure, but team
co-owner Jon Ledecky said in a statement that ownership would be "evaluating
all aspects of our hockey operations."

In joining the Islanders, Lou Lamoriello's No. 1 priority will be star center
John Taveres' impending free agency. The two have already reportedly spoken.

--The Minnesota Wild have hired former Nashville Predators assistant general
manager Paul Fenton to be the team's new GM.

Fenton, 58, becomes the third general manager in the Wild's 18-year history.
He remained the primary candidate for the job after interviewing last month,
which is when Minnesota decided not to renew the contract of previous GM Chuck
Fletcher.

Fenton had been in Nashville's front office since the franchise's inception
under Wild owner Craig Leipold, who founded the Predators in 1998. Fenton
served as director of player personnel until 2006, when he was promoted to
assistant GM. Leipold sold the team in December of 2007 before buying the Wild
in January of 2008.

--While Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper agrees that the Vegas Golden
Knights' outstanding season is "a wonderful story," he doesn't see it as a
Disney-made miracle, instead giving credit to team owner Bill Foley, general
manager George McPhee and head coach Gerard Gallant.

"It's a success story is what it is. It's not a Cinderella story," Cooper told
reporters. "There's been talk of 'how could that happen' or whatever. I'll
tell you how it happened: They got an owner that hired an unreal GM and they
got an unreal GM that hired an unreal coach. They were all left to do their
jobs. They were given a framework to work with. They could've screwed it up or
they could've done really well, and they chose to do really well. They played
within the rules that were given to them, and this is what you get."

The expansion Golden Knights have followed up a Pacific Division title with a
12-3 run through the playoffs to reach the Stanley Cup Final in their first
year of existence.

--Field Level Media