The conclave has concluded.
[UPDATED] The New York Islanders have named Mathieu Darche their new general manager and executive vice president, per an announcement Friday afternoon. The organization digs his hands-on history with a winning team, CBA matters and past experience in management for a customs broker.
News of the pending hire was first reported by Pierre LeBrun late Friday morning. Andrew Gross of Newsday reported there will not be a buffer hire above him or between him and ownership.
Can confirm #Isles will not be hiring anybody above new GM Mathieu Darche
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) May 23, 2025
This was a long time in coming for Darche. As mentioned before, he was heavily considered for Penguins GM job that Kyle Dubas got. Was in final interviews with Vancouver and Montreal as well. Also interviewed in Chicago.
After multiple interviews with Islanders, he finally gets… https://t.co/v94PCPnOyF— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 23, 2025
Darche is a former NHL player (retiring after 2011-12) who “always had [his] eye on management.” He became an upper executive with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019 and rising amid their recent Cup runs, was the “next guy up” commodity among the insular league’s limited pool of candidates for a GM position who had not already had a GM position before.
He’s highly regarded both in Tampa Bay and around the league, and has been a top candidate in multiple teams’ recent GM searches.
Darche will succeed Lou Lamoriello, whose contract as GM will not be renewed by the team. There were reports this week that both Darche and Marc Bergevin received second interviews for this role, as well as permission to speak to recently deposed Leafs president Brendan Shanahan for some kind of role. But Gross confirmed there would not be an additional exec or president role between Darche and ownership.
More to come as official announcements and other details roll out.