The New York Islanders have their new general manager.
Mathieu Darche was appointed GM and executive vice president, the team announced Friday.
A statement from the Islanders says Darche "will manage all aspects of the team’s hockey operations."
The 48-year-old Montreal native has been with the Tampa Bay Lightning since 2019 as an assistant general manager, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
“Mathieu is the perfect choice to lead our hockey operations,” Islanders operating partner John Collins said in a statement. “He will be given every resource available to put the Islanders first-in-class on the ice, with our business initiatives, and in the community.
Darche played parts of nine NHL seasons from 2001 to 2012, recording 30 goals and 42 assists in 250 career games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Lightning and Montreal Canadiens.
Now, he heads to New York to take over a team that placed sixth in the Metropolitan Division at 35-35-12 with an even 82 points in 82 games and missed the playoffs. However, one award for missing the playoffs was winning the draft lottery and the first-overall selection in next month's NHL Draft.
“I am truly honoured by the opportunity to be the New York Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President,” Darche said in a statement. “I’d like to thank Scott Malkin, Jon Ledecky, John Collins, and the entire ownership group for entrusting me with the hockey operations of this great franchise.”
Darche starts with the No. 1 pick in the draft thanks to the Islanders' unexpected lottery win and more than $25 million in salary cap space to use to inject some high-end talent into a roster lacking it.
He also inherits Hall of Fame player Patrick Roy as his head coach. Roy took over behind the Islanders' bench in the second half of the 2023-24 season, leading the team to a playoff berth before it lost in the first round to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Islanders dealt longtime centre Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline, signalling the potential start to a rebuild. Key forward Kyle Palmieri is eligible for free agency this off-season, while top defenceman Noah Dobson is a restricted free agent.
New York parted with previous GM and president Lou Lamoriello in April.
The team was also granted permission to chat with former Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan about its open positions on Wednesday. However, Friday's announcement suggests the Islanders will not be hiring anyone else to lead operations alongside Darche.
--with files from The Associated Press
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