Lamoriello not taking Islanders’ first-place status for granted

The cliché goes that teams who have players returning from injury around this time of year consider them a trade-deadline acquisition — and, hey, it costs nothing!

So yes, as Thomas Hickey and Andrew Ladd took part in the Islanders’ optional morning skate Saturday, dressed in non-contact jerseys, it was a step in the right direction. Hickey, a steadying force on the backend, has been out since suffering a very difficult concussion in Denver back on Dec. 17. Ladd, the oft-injured winger with the bloated contract, has been out since Nov. 13 with a lower-body injury.

But in reality, none of that is not stopping Islanders president Lou Lamoriello from making all the requisite calls in hopes of helping his shockingly first-place team as the Feb. 25 deadline approaches.

Since coach Barry Trotz returned from the 10-day sabbatical that included the All-Star Game this past weekend in San Jose and then the club’s bye week, he has spoken to Lamoriello every day. At some point, they sat down and had an overarching philosophical conversation about the state of the team, and where they feel they stand before this big moment in the season — if not in the future of the franchise.

“We sat down and talked about where we are, our chemistry, our team. We’ve discussed maybe some of the areas we could improve,” Trotz said before Saturday night’s 4-2 win at the Coliseum against the Kings, the second leg of a back-to-back out of the break that began with a terrifically entertaining 1-0 shootout loss to the first-overall Lightning on Friday night on Long Island.

“Lou is as diligent as anyone you’re ever going to meet in terms of making calls and seeing what’s out there,” Trotz continued. “And if he’s going to do anything, it’s going to be in the best interest of the New York Islanders. He’s not going to do anything that’s — he’s looking to improve us all the time, either internally or externally.”

Lamoriello has a pretty flexible roster in terms of cap space, and that’s still assuming that at some point he’s going to be able to hammer out a long-term deal for captain Anders Lee, set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer but very unlikely to get there.

Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle are two high-scoring forwards, and both on expiring contracts. They would prove to be valuable rental pieces for a contender, but moving them for future assets likely would gut this team of a chance to make a little postseason run. Goalie Robin Lehner, just named by league as the second star of the month of January, is also on a one-year deal.

But whereas before the season it seemed like Lamoriello was destined to sell off pieces and build for the future, suddenly things are looking like they’re on an accelerated path. In all his years of experience, Lamoriello will not make a move just to make a move, and if some of his assets end up going to free agency and leaving for nothing in return, then so be it.

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Right now, the club was just hoping to just keep banking points so that when Hickey and Ladd are ready to return, there is a little bit of a buffer period to let them acclimate.

“Hopefully, if we take care of our business and win our games, we need to use that cushion to do that,” Trotz said. “But down the stretch, we’re going to need everybody. So the quicker we can get those guys up to speed, that just makes us a deeper hockey team.”

And then came the cliché everyone knew was coming, which doesn’t mean its entirely false.

“As we get closer to the trade deadline, getting Andrew Ladd and Hickey back, those could be some great acquisitions for us and cost us nothing,” Trotz said. “We’re hoping they get better.”