The New York Islanders’ GM search is heating up, with Mark Bergevin and Matthew Darche emerging as top contenders. Could this decision reshape the Islanders’ future in the NHL? As the team navigates these pivotal changes, connections with the Toronto Maple Leafs add another layer of intrigue. John Tavares, Brendan Shanahan, and Mitch Marner are key figures in this evolving narrative. Meanwhile, Kyle MacLean’s performance is under the microscope, with insights into his first full NHL season and its impact on the Islanders’ strategy.
Explore the dynamics between the Islanders and Maple Leafs, and discover how these developments could influence the team’s trajectory. Don’t miss the analysis of Nicholas Anderson’s career highlights and the potential implications of these changes. Tune in for expert commentary and insider perspectives on the Islanders’ path forward.
All this and more on today’s Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
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25 Comments
As I said, previously Darche is an interesting candidate because he was the Cap Guru and handled contract extension in Tampa. However he has no player scouting or player development background or experience. Very few successful GM came from no scouting or player development background. When you look at Brendan Shannahan the strength of Toronto has been player scouting and development which has been a critical weakness for this team. Very hard to fathom how we ever become contenders without addressing this weakness . If the islanders hire Shanahan I would expect he woukd make Brandon Pridham current asset gm in Toronto as our GM
I'll give you an answer about Marner.. No we dont want him
Shanahan and Darche would be fine with me. I don't see this mess attracting any better.
Forget Marner. The $13 mil is better spent elsewhere, and he's too soft to take a hit.
Personally I thought Tavares wasn’t a great captain on the islanders plus if he was he wouldn’t have left in the fashion he left and it carried over to the leafs when he lost his captaincy there as well. Islanders may have had a terrible season especially with the losses, and terrible I may add losses to the Rangers but Lou being gone, the Rangers not making the playoffs after buying more players, and the Leafs being a hot mess choking again it kind of takes the pain away a tad on this past season. So thank you to the owners, Rangers and Leafs for lessening the blow for my summer lol.
Jarmo Kekalein for NY Isles President of Hockey Operations and Matthew Darche for NY Isles GM
I think drafting a lot of those players on the leafs, who wouldn’t? They were great players but sometimes playing together it doesn’t work or mesh as planned. The issue was Shannahan turning trades down supposedly there lies the question, was he too stubborn to tweak the lineup? Was he strapped to the big four with their salaries and no trade clauses?
the owners have the right to do what they see fit, it is after all their team. I'm just sitting here typing away on this computer, but I think it's a mistake for the owners to hire a President and GM themselves and hope they find a chemistry. especially if they hire a GM first. I would hire a POHO first, with the understanding of what the owners expect and their plan for the the team's future. then trust them to run the team, including hiring a GM, and deciding on the changes needed regarding supporting staff. there is only a limited number of POHO jobs available, so you wouldn't want to turn down the job, but how comfortable would you be if you took the job and you are "forced" to manage a GM who you didn't hire ?
No to anything and I mean anything Toronto! You want to build a house of cards 🃏 then hire Shanny! I don’t care Martin n Marner have a bromance 👯♂️! Absolutely nothing from Toronto!!!! I am fine with Bergy for President and Darche for GM! 2 French Canadian boys! No need to delay this process! Get these Guys Now! Tell our Know nothing about hockey owners to keep their puppet master ideas 💡 out of the picture! Be still Be silent Owners!!! Build this team for the best possible future! Draft! Trade bloated players contracts for draft picks and prospects! No short cuts to build a Stanley Cup Team! Islanders will see the fruits 🍎 of their patience in 3 to 4 years building slowly. To want to kill a team? Then hire Shanny! No more Leafs! No more Lou! No Friends giving friends jobs! No more your my buddy here is a lifetime job! No No No! You want to hire a President who couldn’t get it done with the Leafs? No more anything from the leafs! Bergy President! Darche GM! No more Lou n Chris! No more Friends given jobs anywhere! No Marner he is a Cancer! No cry babies 😭 pointing the finger at teammates! No no no! No boys allowed! Men only! Lord Please 🙏 no Leaf ties! No no no! You want to add ? If Bennet goes UFA that is who you add at 9 mill not a crying baby Marny at 13 mill!!!! But the Islanders should trade off to get draft picks and prospects! Brazeau!!!!! Deal both Dobson and Barzal at the draft! Get Schaefer! Get Hagens! Get Howard! Trade Lee, Duclair, Pelech, Mayfield, Zeeks! no Kyle! We need to get younger! Bigger! Nastier, faster! More Skilled! Time to do the right thing Owners!
the way the Islanders are run, this is not going to happen before the draft, this team is becoming a joke, at this point……a few weeks before the draft and we do not know who is going to make the call, Hagens or Misa, unbelievable
Good 🌄, Gil. How are you? The Islanders' search for a GM just heated up. Marc Bergevin and Matthew Darche both had 2nd interviews. I can understand someone who's older and experienced like Bergevin; however, Darche wants to get his feet wet if you know what I mean. Lou Lamoriello and George Steinbrenner were close friends, and Steinbrenner didn't believe in the beards and long hair either. The Islanders will get a GM before the draft in LA next month. The Islanders and the Maple 🍁 have something in common. That 🐀 John Taveres is one. Brendan Shannahan is another. Mitch Marner, if they can afford him. Kyle McLain. His scoring went down, he was a -15. If his old man goes, it will be a package deal his son will go too. HAPPY 🎂, NIKOLAS ANDERSEN. He got a 🎩trick in 5-3 win over Dallas. Hear from you later Gil, ⏲️ for some nostalgia. Now, LET'S GO ISLANDERS.
Mark Yenetti of LA Kings would be a great fit for the Islanders, imo. I like the idea of someone with a good scouting/player development background.
It’s time to bring JT home. He needs to give us a nice discount. Come back here and make things right. It’ll be the biggest make up in the history of hockey.
How about the asst gm of Dallas. They have been pretty consistent with a great team. IMO obviously
Good morning team! Gil, I'm stuck on the hesitation to hire Darche as our GM. Maybe I don't get it. Is there a certain amount of "interviews" that need to be conducted before such a hire? Let's not waste our time with Bergevin. I don't get warm and fuzzy feelings about him pulling the strings. Time will tell, I guess. I know you'll keep us posted on the latest. Thanks again, Sir. We'll catch you on the next one. Everyone, have a great day! See you all again tomorrow. Until then.. Let's Go Islanders!!
Whoa I would love to see Marner here if the new GM could somehow make that happen I would be thrilled, not easy but anything is possible like you said we ended up with the first pick, miracle #1. I wouldn’t mind having Shanahan here as well. LGI
No to Shanahan. The woke culture doesn't work in hockey.
All I really know about these 2 candidates I have learned from this channel….with that being said I’m leaning towards Darche. He’s won 2 cups recently, being that he’s trying to move up in the hierarchy of NHL management I think he’s going to be hungry and working hard to show he deserves the new job with more responsibilities.
Tavares is a creep he knew all along he wanted to go to the leafs he should have given the islanders respect and told them he was leaving
Niclas Andersson bday of the day. Remember seeing this guy at the Roosevelt field mall. Thing he was with Craig Darby. I do remember niclas anderson scoring a few games in a row. Might have been 3 or 4 games.
The Islanders should not sign expensive free agents sign big muckers and grinders and wait for the young goalscorers to come up GET BIGGER
Gil, McLean is not a NHL player, nuff said
Bergevin did some good things towards the end of his tenure. He drafted Caufield and traded for Suzuki. However, for most of MB's tenure it was Carey Price that carried the team and Bergevin failed to upgrade the lineup in front of the hall of fame goalie. Without Price, the team was sub-par. Unlike Lou Bergevin never traded a first-round pick. Unfortunately his draft record was poor, and most first rounders became nothing.
Mathieu Darche is the man for the job. He should have been hired as GM, within a week after firing lou lamoriello. No on Bergevin. Never. If you want a POHO, bring in Denis Potvin. But Darche should be the GM for the New York Islanders. His background spans every aspect of the front office responsibilities. Ownership is blowing an opportunity to bring in a man who could set the foundation for decades of success in Islanders Country. A no brainer move. But we know ownership isn't comprised of the sharpest set of knives.
Bergerien…
He sabotaged MTL Canadians once he learned he wouldnt be renewed….No ethic….I dont want him in any position for NY Islanders…Darche and anybody but Bergerien…..In french "rien" means nothing!!!!