Islanders name Mathieu Darche new general manager

The New York Islanders confirmed early reports, announcing Mathieu Darche as the team's general manager Friday.

"Mathieu is the perfect choice to lead our hockey operations," Islanders operating partner John Collins said. "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, 48, has served as the director of hockey operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning over the past six seasons. The Lightning qualified for the playoffs in each year of that stretch, including capturing consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021 and appearing in the Finals in 2022.

Tabbed general manager and executive vice president, Darche will replace Lou Lamoriello, who left the Islanders last month after seven seasons.

"I am truly honored by the opportunity to be the New York Islanders general manager and executive vice president," Darche said. "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."

Lamoriello, 82, was hired in 2018 as New York's president of hockey operations. He is a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee in the builders category (2009).

A native of St. Laurent, Quebec, Darche is a former player, having competed in 250 regular-season NHL games and 18 playoff games, scoring 72 regular-season points (30 goals) over nine seasons for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Lightning, and Montreal Canadiens.

The Islanders missed the playoffs in 2024-25 after posting a 35-35-12 record.

New York, however, landed the top overall pick of the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft earlier this month, despite having the 10th-best chance of winning the lottery at 3.5 percent.

"With the Islanders owning the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and preparing to welcome the Olympic sendoff at UBS Arena next season, there is much to which our franchise, our players, and our passionate fans can look forward," Collins said.

--Field Level Media