Lou Lamoriello did not give off the sense of someone satisfied with how the trade deadline went when he spoke to reporters before the Islanders beat the Sharks 4-2 on Saturday.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Lou Lamoriello understands the urgency for the Islanders to get “younger and better.” The Islanders president/general manager just did not believe that could be done properly prior to Friday’s NHL trade deadline without depleting what he feels is a team that is still a playoff contender.

There isn’t much to update on Brock Nelson or Kyle Palmieri ... that general manager and president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello has gotten the most calls on ahead of Friday.

There’s also the matter of Lamoriello’s loyalty to his crew. He only traded Nelson for that good return because Nelson rebuffed several contract offers, likely in the three-year range. If Lamoriello had his way, no one would have been traded this week and the Islanders would have brought the entire gang back for another go in 2025-26.

The record says it, the standings say it and the Islanders’ play on the ice Monday shouted it to the pinwheel ceiling at the Garden: Sell, sell, sell.

The goal of general manager Lou Lamoriello, whose team sits four points out of a wild-card spot, was to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent forwards Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri. Lamoriello was unable to retain Nelson, who reportedly turned down a three-year deal at around $7.5 million annually.

Before puck drop against the San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello spoke about his decisions at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, the future, and his injured players.