After much speculation on separate GMs and presidents, co-GMs and who knows what else, the Isles pick Mathieu Darche as their sole guy.
Of course opinions vary, but I think this GM search ultimately worked out as well as possible for the New York Islanders with the hiring of Mathieu Darche as GM and executive vice president. After what felt like a slow start given the attention around it, they got an answer and firm direction before the Memorial Day weekend, and — despite their best reported efforts — dodged doing the Same Old Thing with another old school guy like Kenny Holland.
They did not end up, as was rumored, with an awkward power-sharing regime with co-GMs or a President brought into oversee an already chosen GM, which has yet to prove successful in the NHL.
They did not go with a retread with mixed past results like Marc Bergevin or Jarmo Kekäläinen, fine executives I’m sure but not exactly inspiring after the past few seasons of stagnation and “we believe in this group” status quo under Lou Lamoriello.
The NHL is changing, fast, and a rising exec with a successful organization who knows the game from both sides as a recent player, upper exec and CBA negotiator is a good fit. The entertainment product has changed too, so sitting quiet, doing little (at least what’s visible to the outside) and saying even less, which is both a hallmark and weakness of Lamoriello’s style in 2025, doesn’t really cut it when the team on the ice appears to spin its wheels, while prices for parking, beer and everything else spin upward.
Professional sports teams have made a choice by milking every possible dollar out of spectators with inflated, amusement park-style “Well you’ve got no alternative until you leave, deal with it” pricing. One of many drawbacks to that approach is that if you’re on-ice/field product sucks, the atmosphere will soon suck, too.
For now at least, new direction from someone who has risen through the industry, is a breath of fresh air.
Islanders News
- Best: At last, a fresh face to lead the Isles. [Newsday]
- And for once, they landed the hot commodity (even if that’s not who they targeted first. [Athletic]
- The draft is imminent, but Darche comes in with a long to-do list awaiting him. [Post]
- One of those is how to handle RFA Noah Dobson and his up-and-down record. [THN]
Elsewhere
- Good Stuart Skinner returned, as the Oilers shut out the Stars in Dallas to even the series at 1-1. [Sportsnet]
- Roope Hintz left the game after a dirty slash. [NHL] The Stars are pissed Darnell Nurse’s slash on Hintz only got a minor, hope he gets a suspension. [Sportsnet]
- As feared, Sam Reinhart is out for the Panthers in Game 3. Looked like could be longer, too, after a clumsy/dirty Aho hit to his knee. [NHL]
- With Brendan Shanahan out, the Leafs’ brass empowers Brad Treliving and Craig Berube. [Sportsnet]