Latest news with #NewYorkIslanders
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
The New York Islanders' New GM Mathieu Darche Tells It Like It Is
The New York Islanders' New GM Mathieu Darche Tells It Like It Is The cone of silence is lifting on Long Island.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Hiring Of Mathieu Darche Represents A New Era For The New York Islanders
ELMONT, NEW YORK - MAY 29: Mathieu Darche poses for a photo with Islanders owners John Collins, Jon ... More Ledecky and Oliver Haarmann after being named the 7th General Manager in New York Islanders history at UBS Arena, on May 29, 2025 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Dennis DaSilva/NHLI via Getty Images) The first sign the Islanders were ushering in a new era during a press conference introducing Mathieu Darche as their new general manager and executive vice president Thursday morning is the fact they held a press conference introducing Mathieu Darche as their new general manager and executive vice president Thursday morning. Technically, the Islanders publicly welcomed Lou Lamoriello as their president of hockey operations seven years ago last week, But that was via conference call (this was two years before we all had to learn how to Zoom) and everyone in sports knows who Lamoriello is — and that his no-frills introduction would set the tone for his entire tenure, one in which he was the lone and rarely revealing voice of authority on all Islanders matters. So Darche, a first-time general manager who won two Cups as a member of the Lightning's front office, stepping to the podium with co-owner John Collins — the type of senior level executive rarely pictured alongside Lamoriello — moments after Free's 'All Right Now' blasted out of the loudspeakers within the suite level at UBS Arena signaled a fresh start for the organization. And then Darche spent the first 11 words of his answer to the first question he fielded making the most declarative statement of all about the Islanders' new era. 'Well, first of all, Patrick will be our coach next season,' Darche said, referring to Patrick Roy, whom Lamoriello hired in January 2024. Darche also announced the fates of assistants Benoit Derosiers, who will remain on staff, and John MacLean and Tommy Albelin, each of whom were dismissed. Later, he said center Bo Horvat should be recovered from the ankle injury he suffered at the IIHF World Championship after four to six weeks and that '…someone would have to really knock my socks off' for him to trade the no. 1 pick in next month's NHL Draft. That's four bits of information Lamoriello wouldn't have released if Jack Bauer was the one doing the interrogating. This is not meant to denigrate or mock Lamoriello, whose ways worked extraordinarily well for a longer period of time than just about any executive in sports history. He arrived at a critical juncture for the Islanders, who didn't have an arena and were about to lose John Tavares to free agency, and helped steer the club to UBS Arena while overseeing consecutive runs to the NHL semifinals in 2020-21. Lamoriello's insistence on not rebuilding and instead trying to squeeze as much as he could out of the Islanders' core was admirable in an era in which tanking is encouraged. But the Islanders, at another unique if less delicate intersection in franchise history, needed a fresh and collaborative perspective — especially after spending the first quarter of this century as the most insular team in the league. Mike Milbury's chaos gave way, ever so briefly, to Charles Wang's committee approach in 2006. Neil Smith, the nominal general manager, was fired after a mere 41 days and replaced by backup goalie Garth Snow, who remained in place for 12 seasons and one postseason series victory. Snow and Lamoriello both stayed unusually loyal to the Islanders' core — as prospects under Snow, who was reluctant to add to the mix, and as increasingly wizened veterans under Lamoriello. Eleven members of this season's team were with the Islanders since at least the 2019-20 season. In addition, Matt Martin (2009-10), Casey Cizikas (2011-12), Anders Lee (2012-13), Scott Mayfield (2013-14) and Brock Nelson (2013-14) all debuted with the team more than a decade ago. The Islanders' farm system dried up in infamous fashion this season, when Bridgeport won just 15 games — including an AHL record-low four at home — while Lamoriello had to pluck Tony D'Angelo from exile in order to shore up a depleted blue line. (And again, to be fair, D'Angelo immediately became the Islanders' most durable defenseman) 'I believe in developing in the winning environment,' Darche said. 'The AHL will definitely be a focus for me, because your players have to be ready. Because, let's face it, every team needs players called up during the year.' Pivoting to a general manager enthusiastic about player development is doubly important thanks to two bits of good fortune that unexpectedly landed in the Islanders' laps. Lamoriello acquired promising center Calum Ritchie from the Avalanche in exchange for Nelson on Mar. 6, albeit only after he couldn't sign the impending free agent to an extension. A little under two months later, the Islanders won the NHL Draft lottery despite entering the proceedings with a 3.5 percent chance at landing the top pick. The lottery win, in particular, was a reminder any success the Islanders have enjoyed since the dynasty years has been of the serendipitous variety. The 1993 team made an unsustainable Cinderella run to the then-Wales Conference finals. In 2018, Lamoriello hired Barry Trotz a little more tan weeks after he won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals, who refused to sign him to a long-term extension. The Islanders were on the verge of falling out of the Eastern Conference playoff race when the pandemic hit in 2020, but the four-month pause allowed players to get healthy and for Trotz to rework their defensive system for a semifinal run. The 2021 trip to the final four came following a 56-game regular season in which the Islanders had the 12th-most points in the NHL. Hoping for everything to go right once in a while underneath an all-powerful general manager is not a recipe for long-term success. Of the 21 teams in the NHL in 1984, only the Islanders, Winnipeg/Arizona/Phoenix/Utah and the Maple Leafs (LOL) have failed to make the Stanley Cup Final since 1984, when the Oilers ended the drive for five. 'There is a championship legacy here that needs to move forward,' Collins said on the day in which there was no way of knowing how Darche and a collaborative effort would fare, only that it was time to begin finding out.
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Toronto Raptors mailbag: Who should they draft, plus Masai Ujiri's future
Article content If you missed Part 1 of the mailbag, which had a lot of trade talk, it's here. From Various people: 'Do you think the lottery was rigged, because it sure as hell seemed like it was!!!' RW: No. It's a lottery, weird things happen. We saw Atlanta win with minuscule odds last year, the New York Islanders and Utah Whatevers make massive jumps in the NHL lottery this year and the days of lotteries going mostly chalk are long gone. There are too many security procedures in place for it to be rigged. I simulated the lottery 25 times on Tankathon and Dallas only moved up twice, to second and to fourth (Toronto moved into the Top 4 several times). Dan: 'With the East not having many great teams, what do you think is the likelihood the Raptors attempt to upgrade their talent with a large-ish trade or two? I'm thinking trading a youth or two for a solid big makes sense for this group as currently constructed.'
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Islanders sign forward Kyle Palmieri to two-year deal
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (AP) — The New York Islanders signed forward Kyle Palmieri to a two-year contract on Friday. Palmieri had 24 goals and 24 assists while playing all 82 games for the Islanders last season. He has 87 goals and 85 assists in 305 games with New York since arriving in a trade from New Jersey on April 7, 2021. For his career, the 34-year-old center has 270 goals and 257 assists in 900 games with the Anaheim Ducks, Devils and Islanders. He also has 18 goals and 14 assists in 68 playoff games. The Islanders also re-signed defenseman Adam Boqvist to a one-year contract. The 24-year-old had two goals and six assists in 17 games with New York after he was claimed off waivers from Florida on Jan. 31. He finished the season with four goals and 10 assists in 35 games, and has 27 goals and 72 assists in 244 career games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Panthers and Islanders. ___ AP NHL:
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Darche embraces the Islanders' challenge with a vision to build a perennial playoff contender
Mathieu Darche's arrival at the New York Islanders marks. This is more than just a career step, as it signals a turning point. That too for a franchise hungry to recapture its legacy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Growing up in Montreal during the Islanders' dynasty years. Darche remembers their dominance vividly, that deep admiration has now transformed into a mission. In order to restore the Islanders as a winning organization., with a resume shaped by his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, including two Stanley Cup wins and a key role in hockey operations. Darche brings not just experience. But a proven approach to sustained success. The Islanders, who missed the playoffs this past season, This need both strategic and cultural renewal. Darche's emphasis is clear, as every decision, from staff changes to player evaluations. This is part of a larger blueprint aimed at lifting the franchise. That too beyond mediocrity and into lasting competitiveness. He begins this challenge with a strong sense of purpose, knowing that he is inheriting both expectations and opportunity. Building a strong foundation for the future Press Conference: Mathieu Darche - New York Islanders GM & EVP - New York Islanders - May 29 2025 Darche's first major move was confirming head coach Patrick Roy's return, while reshaping the coaching team beneath him. The goal is alignment from top to bottom, a value Darche holds strongly from his experience in Tampa Bay. The Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate in Bridgeport, which finished last in the league standings, will also undergo a coaching overhaul, signaling a commitment to development at every level. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now One of the most compelling opportunities. That too for Darche lies in the 2025 NHL Draft, with the Islanders holding the first overall pick. Tthe stakes are high. While trading the pick seems unlikely. Darche knows the decision will shape the team's future. Whether selecting top-rated defenseman Matthew Schaefer or choosing a homegrown forward like James Hagens, the pick will be pivotal. Darche understands the magnitude, calling the moment a rare and exciting starting point in his GM journey. Connecting past lessons to present goals Mathieu Darche poses after being named the 7th General Manager in New York Islanders history at UBS Arena (Credit: Getty Image) Though the Islanders have fallen short in recent years, their competitive window isn't closed. Captain Anders Lee echoed a shared belief that the team had the pieces to be in the playoffs, but execution failed them. Darche sees that as a starting block, not a setback. His approach combines immediate analysis with a long-term strategy. He's already meeting with players, learning the team's rhythm, and identifying where adjustments must be made. Read more: Replacing a figure like Lou Lamoriello isn't easy. His tenure brought structure and standards. But Darche isn't trying to replicate; he's building on that legacy with a modern lens. He's clear-eyed about the challenges but equally committed to daily improvement. Every step forward, for him, must serve the ultimate goal: to make the New York Islanders a consistent playoff team again.
