Report: Islanders to hire Mathieu Darche as general manager

There looks to be a new man in charge on Long Island.

According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the New York Islanders are expected to hire Mathieu Darche as the team’s next general manager.

The position became open after the Islanders announced the team would be moving on from former president of hockey operations and GM Lou Lamoriello. The Hockey Hall of Fame executive had held the post for the last seven seasons, but the team has failed to make it beyond the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since its back-to-back runs to the semifinals in 2020 and 2021.

The Isles are clearly looking for a new vision for the team. Lamoriello’s methods had seemingly grown stale despite qualifying for the postseason in consecutive campaigns before finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division this past year.

Darche would bring an extensive amount of experience to the job. Along with playing parts of nine seasons in the NHL, he has been director of hockey operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning since the 2019-20 season. The St-Laurent, Quebec native saw his team win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, eliminating the Isles along the way. During his tenure, the Lightning made it to three straight Stanley Cup Finals, a feat that hadn’t yet been accomplished in the salary cap era.

Starting in 2022-23, Darche took on the role of assistant general manager under Julien BriesBois. Together, Tampa made the playoffs every year Darche held his role, though they haven’t made it beyond the opening round since the 2022 Cup Final.

In his playing days, Darche made stops with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks and Lightning before spending the final three years of his pro career with the Montreal Canadiens. He last played in the NHL in 2012. In 250 NHL appearances, Darche scored 30 goals and 42 assists for 72 points, including three points in 18 postseason games, all coming with the Habs.