Mathieu Darche takes the helm as the New York Islanders’ new general manager, promising a fresh, modern approach to the team’s strategy. How will his innovative style reshape the Islanders’ future in the NHL? This episode explores Darche’s background with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the challenges he faces, including roster management and draft strategies. Key figures like Lou Lamarello, Patrick Roy, and players such as Noah Dobson and Anders Lee are central to the discussion. The episode also examines potential shifts in team dynamics and the impact of Darche’s leadership on the Islanders’ competitive edge.
Tune in for an in-depth analysis of the Islanders’ new direction and discover how Darche plans to elevate the team to new heights.
All this and more on today’s bonus episode of the Locked On Islanders Podcast with Gil Martin.
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39 Comments
never heard of him
It would be funny but also tragic if Darsch signs Palmieri to a seven-year contract. I'm just kidding 🙂 LOL
🏒 Kyle Palmieri – Right Wing
Games Played: 82
Goals: 24
Assists: 24
Points: 48
Palmieri provided consistent secondary scoring, contributing significantly on both ends of the ice
not saying to sign him again, but he was not the problem
Thank you Gil, sorry for all the comments! haha
Man im so upset i missed this but was busy with work … WHAT A GREAT HIRE 🎉
Good 🌙, Gil. How are you? I'm glad they hired Matheiu Darche as the new GM. Now, it's ⏲️ for him to clean up Lou Lamoriello mess. I also hope he keeps Patrick Roy as Head Coach. Hear from you later, Gil. Now, LET'S GO, ISLANDERS. WELCOME TO LI, MATHEIU DARCHE.
I disagree with you on Tavares. He’s near 500 goals, and should finish with over 1200 points. He was a great NHL player. Islanders never really surrounded him with great talent, yet he lead the team in scoring in almost every season.
He made players around him better. Hell, he had two career minor leaguers in Moulson and Parenteau, and made them decent NHL players, hell, Moulson scored 30+ goals three seasons in a row on Tavares’ wing. Tavares will get into the Hall of Fame.
Gil I’m curious to see if darche is gonna trade for Isaac Howard.
Misa has to be the pick by team needs considering the similar value in quality of player between Schaefer and Misa…and I like Schaefer. Adding Misa is what this team needs most.
To have Ritchie, Misa, Eiserman, Nelson, Finley and Holmstrom in the middle six in a couple of years is encouraging to say the least.
I'd get rid of Roy, move on from Lee and Pageau around the trade deadline or sooner. If a team came sniffing for Pelech, I'd move him along. Engvall and Mayfield – gone.
I am very happy with this, IMO he was the best man available for the job. LGI
If Darche doesn't begin by dumping Roy, it was a mistake hiring him!
There's no right or wrong in regards to one individual handling both GM and President of Hockey OPS or being divided into two parties. There's a problem when an individual tries to be GM and Coach also.
If we are really serious about competing this coming year, I only see one way. They have to get super aggressive and go out and get Mitch Marner. Through Matt Martin you know if he is seriously considering the Island. If he is don’t wait go get his rights. Toronto burned all the bridges with Mitch. Call Toronto and get the rights while dumping salary. The rights are important, because you can offer the 8 years. Do it contingent on being able to talk contract first. They could use JG (5mil AAV) try to attach Engvall (3 mil AAV). Maybe they feel they can get more from him. If not you do the JG. Of course JG is valuable, however he won’t be resigned at the end of the year. Then try to move Lee (7 mil AAV) or Mayfield (3.5 Mil AAV) during draft. I would love to get rid of DuClair and Engvall but that isn’t realistic. You never know all options have to be explored. Due your due diligence. Marner at 13×8 is a good move his game will age gracefully. We essentially have No PP or PK Mitch can help on both. JG 3rd line Center job is going to Cal Ritchie. If you move on from Mayfield you open a spot for Boqvist. Bottomline you immediately find out if Mitch is considering you, if no you know your direction. It’s only a phone call. ☎️ No other FA really fit, so you play with what you have or look
At trade possibilities.
Love this and I'm fine with trading bo
Gilll they got the guy you wanted!! wooo
Thank God! Just make sure lou and his crew are officially outta here. I don't want to move any first round picks especially this year or next. But what do we have that Tampa Bay would want for a Howard trade? Pick Schaefer this year. I'd love to move Engvall, duclair, Lee and Pageau, before the season begins, to clear as much cap space as possible.
I really like the hire and Darche deserves this shot. I'm very surprised a POHO does not look likely. Sometimes it's better and especially if both are not on the same page.
this is so exciting!
A new era in NY Islanders hockey indeed, YES YES YES! In this great future you can’t forget your past. Take Schaefer with the first pick, it worked out pretty well in 1973 when the Islanders took the BEST player in the draft, Denis Potvin. There are more scoring prospects in the system or they can pick up a free agent. LGI!!!!
Just make sure kyle palmieri is NOT brought back. Let the rangers have him.
Congrats Islanders for dodging a bullet by hiring the better choice 👍.
Isles need a fresh approach. Looking at our roster and a few of the contracts, he has a tough road ahead. I think he is the right man for the job. It was not time for a retread of old school thinking. I'm older 🙂 but love this move. Still can not believe it.
Need to get the fans back on board. Fun to be excited about hockey in May again. 🙂
Great day for the Isles.
Not a fan of Roy the Coach! But willing to give him one year with new assistant coaches. Totally fine with moving on from Roy!
draft misa for the number 1 pick he could be the next colin mcdavid
unless a defenseman is the next coming of bobby orr you do not take a defenseman with the number 1 pick in the draft..
People covering NY Islanders describe Darche as the most respected and sought after NHL e executive. However , you never hear the Toronto Sun or Toronto Star or Montreal Gazette or TSN or Sportsnet describe him that way. When i asked people at the nhl office in montreal about Darche they talked about how his dream job was being GM not of NY but the Pens. He got Julien BriseBois to literally call everyone in the frint office yet they decided to hire Dubas. They talked about how he interviewed with 7 other teams to be GM but was never hired. I told them i am confused isnt he the most sought-after person. Their response everyone thinks he is intelligent and innovative. However contrary to reports in ny media he never was involved in anything other than cap or contract extension. Teams view his experience as being too one dimensional. Reason why he was not hired. Many people around the league are surprised that darche got full control and power essentially being gm and team president. Will he be better than lou absolutely. But i think he will be a middling gm. We needes someone with experience in rebuilding an entire organization from scouring to data and analytics to player development. Darche would be great for a team that is already a playoff team that needs to get over the hump.
Fun fact: The last time Darche laced up for an NHL team was for the Devils 2013 training camp while Yoda was GM.
Cul de sac time over. Clean house
Gil….missed this chat…..thank you for the background on Darche…..okay feels positive….lets rock n roll…🏒💫🌟✨
Good morning team! Great news, Gil. He is exactly who I wanted. Hopefully I'm not proven wrong. I'm ready for great things to happen. Everyone, have a great rest of the weekend and Happy Memorial Day to you all. See you all during the next episode. Let's Go Islanders!!
Darche is the guy! ..I'm excited about the future. We are going to love him.
– a savant in salary cap understanding, was hand in hand with one of the most successful drafting teams in the past 15 years (and you know he was a heavy part of the decisions) – now let him cook!
Take Schaefer and get rid of Dobson. Isles need to have someone who can break out of their own zone fast. As someone else said here, you can always trade for a goal scorer.
Im a devils fan but hockey fan overall LL was done several yrs back. Make it make sense he signed Emgvall And Duclair to 5 yr contracts he did the same thing with the Devils which left me scratching my head often hes past his time 10 yrs ago isles were trying to catch lightning in a bottle when they hired LL.
Great hire. Cap savvy. From a winning organization. Far enough outside to be objective about what needs to be done.
Great show, very informative. A decent move by the Isles in going with Darche. One thing though, I was glad the Isles kept Palmieri last year bc it signaled that the Isles weren't giving up on the season like other teams obviously did. They stayed neck and neck with Mtl right up until the last week even with all of the injuries. Imo, whether you're a real contender or not, teams have to try to win every night, not play to lose for draft standings.
It's going to be very interesting to see what the Isles do this summer.
Think Misa is the correct pick. Also I don’t think Schafer is as good as a prospect as hedman was. Also tb already had Stamkos. Darche could also look at it how important it was to have a stud center like Stamkos and go with the center Will be interesting to see which way he goes. Isles need scoring and Misa fits the bill. This kid is good in all zones, can make plays, skates great something taveras never was great at, and most importantly Misa can score. This kid has more points than McKenna who most likely will be the 1st overall pick in 2026. Misa was granted exceptional status like the many superstars of the league. Crosby, McKinnon, mcdavid And Taveras to name a few. Baffles me how we are not praising this kid more. Compared to Schafer who most recently has a small sample size of 17games. Yes this kid is talented, but he’s not Makar. Think the pick easily should be Misa. Based on team needs, if the sharks had 1st overall I can see Schafer being drafted. With that, I would trade down and add assets if the sharks want Schafer so bad. I hear comparisons to doughty and even drew a as drafted behind a center. Stamkos.
I think this only the second time we have disagreed. (That’s ok) We can agree to disagree. I know I’m in the minority, but I don’t like this signing at all. I think he’s young (not necessarily a bad thing) many mediocre players become NHL coaches. Because they don’t have god given abilities and they have to think the game through to stay up in the NHL. I think he’s a pencil pushier that will help with the cap and he might find one or two good young players and that’s about it because he’s in over his head, that’s just my opinion and honestly hope I’m
wrong! The Pittsburgh Penguins passed on this dude & hired Kyle Dubas. Kyle Dubas sucks, he couldn’t win a Cup with John Tavares, Mitch Marner, Austin Mathews, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly some of the best players in the league. Glad to see Toronto is breaking up the core after this season. I wonder where JT lands and Mitch Marner, who’s overrated.
Morning Gil, I’m all for struggling this year and with two 1st round picks the possibility of picking Mckeena would boost our team up. So, yeah im absolutely fine with a bad year or two with our young players. Need them to mature and build chemistry.