Behind Islanders Lou Lamoriello's Clean-Cut Policy & His Correlating Relationship With Late New York Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner

There's a reason why Lou Lamoriello has the rules he has. He takes after his old friend, the late George Steinbrenner, whose rules are still in place with the New York Yankees despite his passing in 2010.

New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello is notorious for his strict set of rules.

His players must be clean-shaven and cut their hair to collar length, as well as: 

Lamoriello's been this way for as long as he's been a general manager, starting with the New Jersey Devils in 1987 before bringing his rules to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015 and then to Long Island in 2018. 

Some fans have been outspoken aren't about the "strict" rules, while any player you talk to who has played for Lamoriello tells you they don't mind it. 

Ironically enough, the Islanders were the team that started the "playoff beard" ritual during the Dynasty days. 

Many of his players out their beards and hair in the summer, but when it's time to get ready for the start of training camp, it's back to CVS to buy the razors. 

On Wednesday, the newest Islander, Anthony Duclair, shared a picture of himself cutting his dreads and shaving his beard. 

So, why does Lamoriello enforce these rules?

It's about discipline, building a culture, and the adage that the jersey's logo is more important than the name on the back.

It's similar to what the New York Yankees have done since the late George Steinbrenner made a no-shave, no-long-hair policy a thing (amongst other rules) back in 1976.

And for those that don't know, Lamoriello and Steinbrenner were really close. 

The Yankees have a parent company called YankeeNets LLC, which is also the parent company of the then-New Jersey and now Brooklyn Nets and the New Jersey Devils, buying the hockey team in 2000. 

At the time, Lamoriello was general manager of the New Jersey Devils, holding that position since 1987. 

Upon the acquisition of the Devils, Steinbrenner named Lamoriello CEO and chairman of the team, along with naming him vice-chairman and CEO of the Nets. 

Lamoriello held his role with the Nets until 2004, when Jeffrey Vanderbeek, the executive vice president of Lehman Brothers, bought the Devils from YankeeNets LLC.

“For whatever reason, we became fairly close and spent considerable time (together) at different times. He was the sole individual responsible for me taking over the Nets when that transpired. His support throughout all of those years was just exceptional. He had me become part of the Yankee family. He was never afraid to say what he thought, which is what I admired about him,” Lamoriello said. “He was committed to the organization, he was committed to the logo, and he had strong beliefs. He followed through the best he could.” (H/t NHL.com's Mike Morreale).

So, there you have it. 

This is not to say that Lamoriello's rules are right or wrong, but it's clear that Lamoriello didn't just come up with these rules one night. 

He models how he runs a franchise after someone he admired greatly, and it isn't going to change because some people -- not his players -- are upset about it.