Latest news with #Darche
Time of India
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche speaks out on Matthew Schaefer and top draft pick decision
New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche speaks out on Matthew Schaefer and top draft pick decision (Image via Getty) New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche has finally spoken out about the team's decision to keep the first-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. In a new interview published on August 6, 2025, Darche said he never seriously thought about trading the pick. He made it clear that the Islanders were set on picking 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer, one of the top young hockey talents in the world. In a conversation with NHL insider Jeff Marek, Darche said only a few teams called to ask what his plans were. 'There was never an actual offer,' Mathieu Darche said. 'A few teams just asked, 'Hey, what are your plans?' and I told them straight, I'm picking.' Mathieu Darche trusted Islanders' scouts on Matthew Schaefer pick The 2025 NHL Draft was held in June, and Mathieu Darche said the team's scouts were sure from early on that Matthew Schaefer was the player they wanted. Even though Darche had only recently become the general manager, he trusted the scouting team fully. — rtaub_ (@rtaub_) 'So I wasn't moving the pick,' Darche explained. 'I didn't know the player as well as our scouts. But they were all-in on him.' The pick, which came after a lucky draft lottery win, was originally earned by the Islanders' head of scouting, Ken Morrow. Darche made sure to credit Morrow for putting the team in position to land Schaefer. After watching footage and meeting Schaefer, Darche said the choice became clear. 'I've seen Matthew before,' he said. 'He got hurt during the Junior World Championship, but once I took the job and watched more of him, it was a clear cut. He was going to be our guy.' Also Read: Matthew Tkachuk And Wayne Gretzky Team Up With Donald Trump To Revive Iconic Presidential Fitness Test For Youth Matthew Schaefer's maturity and past struggles impressed Mathieu Darche After meeting Matthew Schaefer at the NHL Combine earlier this year, Mathieu Darche was deeply impressed by the young player's attitude. The combine took place in June 2025, just weeks before the draft. 'The kid is an impressive young man,' Darche said. 'His maturity is beyond his years.' Matthew Schaefer, who lost his mother at a young age, has shown great strength off the ice as well. Darche said the way Schaefer has handled life's challenges made him an even stronger pick for the Islanders. Now, all eyes are on whether Matthew Schaefer will make his NHL debut in fall 2025. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Islanders, Tsyplakov's Expectations For 2025-26; What His Next Contract Could Look Like
On Saturday, New York Islanders restricted free agent forward Maxim Tsyplakov filed for salary cap arbitration. He declined his $897,750 qualifying offer, and nobody should be shocked by that. Advertisement This in no way, shape or form does this mean Tsyplakov wants out. While arbitration hearings will take place from late July 20 through August 4, Tsyplakov is eligible to sign a contract with Long Island -- they call it settling -- before his actual hearing takes place. Tsyplakov averaged 0.45 points per game in his first NHL season, and the expectation, on both sides, is that he'll improve in year two. "For his first year in North America, we kinda forget sometimes when they come, it's not only the first time playing on North American style of hockey, it's also that it's a different culture, like it's going to a new culture that can be challenging for a person," Darche shared in his 1-on-1 interview for The Elmonters. "He did, actually, a great job in his first year. Advertisement 'He's adjusted really well, and I expect him also to progress and be even better the second time around. Now he is comfortable with New York, with Long Island, and comfortable with NHL hockey. So yeah, I expect some progression from him.' Tsyplakov shared his thoughts on his first NHL season at locker room cleanout day. "I expected more from myself, score more goals," the forward said. "I just did not complete my chances when I got them. Just, sometimes, no lucky shot. In the KHL, I have a lot of luck. Here, I know I can score more and be better next season. "I need to cut the turnovers. I don't want to turn [puck] over." Advertisement The question is how much is a player who recorded 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 77 NHL games in 2024-25 asking for? During the season, his Russian agent, Alex Chernykh, stated in an interview that the Islanders were prepared to offer him $3 million per year on his next deal. But, Tsyplakov made it clear in a following interview that he hadn't had talks yet with the Islanders about an extension. However, $3 million annually may have been what Tsyplakov's camp ultimately asked for. If that is Tsyplakov's request, it wouldn't be a shock to see his extension, whether it be a one-year deal via arbitration or a multi-year deal before his hearing, with an annual salary somewhere between $2 and $3 million. Advertisement A reminder that arbitrators can only award a one-year deal, but they cannot interfere with a player's unrestricted free agent years. So, Tsyplakov, 26, is only eligible for a one-year deal in arbitration since he'll be a UFA next summer. The positive is that Tsyplakov did enjoy his first season on Long Island. "I want to stay here," Tsyplakov said. "Everything was good and everything I like. Good city, good team, good people. Good fun." The belief isn't that Tsyplakov is going to be asking for the moon. It is, however, hard to guage comparables when it comes to production and contracts. Advertisement For example, Tsyplakov is a stronger player than Connor Brown, who signed a four-year deal with the New Jersey Devils worth $3 million per year. The question is, do the Islanders want to give Tsyplakav a one-year prove-it deal to see if he can be more of a 20/20 or 25/25 player at the NHL level before committing to a long-term deal? While that would make a lot of sense, if given a one-year deal, Tsyplakov will be a free agent in the summer of 2026, and he could price himself out depending on his performance and which youngsters are ready to make the jump. Looking at the projected roster and lineup, Tsyplakov will likely have a bottom-six role at the start of the season, and perhaps there will be a better opportunity elsewhere to play significant minutes. Islanders Depth Chart; Projected 23-Man Roster Islanders Depth Chart; Projected 23-Man Roster The Advertisement New York Islanders have made a few significant moves to their roster this offseason. If Darche and Roy believe Tsyplakov can play an important role now and in the future, there's no reason he can't secure a short-term deal. As of now, the Islanders have under $5 million in available cap space, according to Cap Wages, which includes Semyon Varlamov and his $2.75 million cap hit on the roster. He's currently on LTIR. So, regardless of the contract Tsyplakov ultimately signs, the Islanders won't have any issues fitting him under the cap. We'll see how much time goes by before the two sides agree on a deal. Don't be shocked if a deal happens before his arbitraiton hearing day, with the date being announced at a later date. Advertisement Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story. PHOTO: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
New York Post
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Islanders strike deal with forward Emil Heineman after Noah Dobson trade
Mathieu Darche continued to check boxes off his to-do list Wednesday. The Islanders announced a two-year deal with Emil Heineman after trading for the restricted free agent's rights in the deal that sent Noah Dobson to Montreal. The deal came in at $1.1 million annually, per a source. The Islanders signed restricted free agent Emil Heineman to a two-year contract. Getty Images Heineman, who will likely slot into the fourth line, had 10 points and eight assists with the Habs last season while playing a physical and competitive style of hockey that appealed to Darche. The Swede played 62 games last year, missing time after getting hit by a car in Salt Lake City. On the ice from Long Island Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters 'We really wanted him to be in the trade, so we pushed to the end to be in the trade,' Darche said last week. 'He's a player the league discovered this year. He had a great start to the year. '… We see potential. He's a strong kid that skates great, he's got a rocket of a shot. If you look at his goals, it's a high-velocity shot that can score. We see a lot of potential in this player. The cap hit right now works, it helps us maybe create other opportunities somewhere else cause he's an NHL player. He's an established NHL player now. We feel he can only improve in the coming years.' Emil Heineman playing for Sweden against the U.S. during the 2025 IIHF World Championships. Getty Images The Islanders still have to get deals done for restricted free agents Max Tsyplakov and Marc Gatcomb. They're also waiting on a decision from Russian free agent Max Shabanov.
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
When is 2025 NHL Draft? Start time, draft order for first round
The New York Islanders lucked out when they won the draft lottery and jumped from 10th place to No. 1 overall. Mathieu Darche was even luckier because he wasn't even with the Islanders that day. He was hired as the team's general manager 18 days later. That's why he plans to hang on to the pick during the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday, June 27. "I've been pretty fortunate," he told reporters earlier this week. "Usually when you pick a player at No. 1, you get a special player. I'm going to get a great player who's going to push our organization forward." Darche didn't tip his hand on his pick. He called Erie (Pennsylvania) Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the top-ranked player, "an impressive young man" but noted that other players he met during the interview process also have been impressive. Here's what to know about the 2025 NHL draft, including start time, how to watch, the first-round order and top prospects: What time does the NHL draft start tonight? The 2025 NHL Draft will be held June 27-28 at L.A. Live's Peacock Theater in Los Angeles (team officials will participate remotely). The first round will start at 7 p.m. ET Friday and the second through seventh rounds will start at noon ET Saturday. What channel is the NHL draft tonight? The first round will be shown on ESPN and the second day will be shown on NHL Network. How to live stream the NHL draft Fubo carries ESPN and NHL Network. Both days can be streamed on ESPN+. Stream the NHL draft on Fubo 2025 NHL Draft: First-round order First-round order: How teams acquired their picks through trades Who are the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft? As ranked by NHL Central Scouting How many rounds are the NHL draft? There are seven rounds. The first round is on Friday, June 27, starting at 7 p.m. ET. The second through seventh rounds are on Saturday, June 28, starting at noon ET. 2025 NHL Draft: Mock drafts Red Line Report's Kyle Woodlief lists Schaefer, Misa, Martone, Hagens and Frondell as his top five picks. Full list Here is how AI predicts the first round will go.
NBC Sports
27-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Islanders new GM eager to place stamp on team, projected to take Matthew Schaefer. No. 1 in NHL draft
Barely a month into his new role overseeing the New York Islanders, Mathieu Darche understands there is not much he can take credit for yet in placing his stamp on the franchise. The 48-year-old first-time general manager was still employed by Tampa Bay in early May when the NHL lottery balls bounced the Islanders' way, vaulting them 10 spots in the order to land the first pick at the draft in Los Angeles. 'I can't even say it was the Darche luck,' he said with a laugh. The hard work of turning around an Islanders team that has missed the playoffs twice in the past four years, and not won a series since reaching the 2021 semifinals, starts now with New York anticipated to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Though Darche won't disclose his plans for No. 1, what is clear is the Islanders have the opportunity to add a young, NHL-ready cornerstone to a team that was just two points out contention before collapsing down the stretch with a 3-7-4 finish. 'I'm going to get a great player that's going to push our organization forward and a player that hopefully plays for us for 15, 20 years,' he said, before being asked specifically about Schaefer. 'He's an impressive young man,' Darche said of the two-way defenseman for the Erie Otters who has shown poise and perseverance after losing his mother to cancer amid other challenges. 'He's a hell of a player. He's a great person. But having said that, there's a lot of other kids at the draft that we met that are very impressive.' The San Jose Sharks hold the second pick and are poised to add to a developing young core, which includes 2024 No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini. 'It's been some tough seasons for our fans, as well, to kind of get through. But I think we're starting to turn the corner,' Sharks GM Mike Grier said of a team that has finished 29th or worse in four of the past six years since most recently reaching the playoffs. Grier declined to speculate on who might go first, while noting the Sharks are in good spot to land an impact player at No. 2. If Schaefer goes first, San Jose will have several options at center, with OHL Saginaw's Michael Misa and Sweden's Anton Frondell among the candidates. Chicago is set to pick third, followed by Utah, which also jumped 10 spots in the order following the draft lottery. At No. 5 is Nashville, followed by Philadelphia — two teams that will have considerable influence on the selection process with three picks apiece in the opening round of the draft. 'There's definitely a lot of ammo to try to do different things, and not necessarily moving up or down, but it could be acquiring for the future,' Flyers GM Danny Brier said. The top talent The top-ranked U.S.-born prospect is Boston College center James Hagens, who is from Long Island. The consensus is the pool of top-tier-rated prospects goes seven deep, though there's a debate over how teams rank players beyond Schaefer, Misa and Frondell. That means the intrigue at the draft is anticipated to start with Utah at No. 4. Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong doesn't buy it. 'It's interesting because there's so many things that can move, right?' said Armstrong, who added a top-line forward in acquiring JJ Peterka in a trade with Buffalo without sacrificing Utah's draft position. 'We're in that process of exploring what's going to come to us at 4, and I like what's there.' It's teams like the Sabres, owners of the ninth pick, that are weighing their options to see how the first round unfolds. 'The intrigue and nervousness will be how we view the top six-seven and will one of those be there at nine for us?' Buffalo assistant GM Jerry Forton said. Pool of prospects This year's pool of draft prospects is regarded as strong, but lacks a high-caliber star such as Celebrini, and with Canadian forward Gavin McKenna long-tabbed as the No. 1 pick next year. Forwards are expected to dominate the top 10 selections beyond Schaefer, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 186 pounds and considered an elite skater and a reliable defender with playmaking upside. From Hamilton, Ontario, Schaefer has the chance to be the first OHL player to go No. 1 since 2015, when Erie star Connor McDavid was selected first by Edmonton. 'Nothing's really kicked in too much right now because I don't think about it too much,' Schaefer said. 'I guarantee you tomorrow night, though, it for sure will.' The Islanders previously have picked No. 1 four times, with John Tavares the most recent in 2009. The last time they took a defenseman atop the draft was 1973, and Denis Potvin helped them win the Stanley Cup four times in a row from 1980-83 on the way to the Hockey Hall of Fame. New York, however, has lagged in first-round picks in recent years as a result of trades. This marks just the second time in six years the Isles have a first-round pick after selecting Cole Eiserman at No. 20 last year under Darche's predecessor, Lou Lamoriello. 'Regardless of who we pick on Friday, we'll get a special player that's going to help the New York Islanders fairly quickly,' Darche said.
