Mathieu Darche appeared happy during his formal introduction as the new executive vice president and general manager of the New York Islanders on Thursday in New York.
The 48-year-old former NHL forward, who previously spent six seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, winning two Stanley Cups, is now taking over the team`s hockey operations department from Lou Lamoriello.
Darche officially confirmed that Patrick Roy would remain the head coach next season and would have the freedom to hire his own assistant coaches, with John MacLean and Tommy Albelin not returning. Darche also announced planned changes to the coaching staff for Bridgeport, the team`s AHL affiliate. The Islanders failed to qualify for the playoffs this season, having been eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round in each of the prior two years.
Darche, who played 268 games in the NHL from 2001 to 2012 across five teams, stated he is ready to begin the work.
“We want to create our own success going forward, build our own legacy,” said Darche, a Montreal native who mentioned watching the Islanders and his idol Mike Bossy win four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983. “I believe in best practices and seeing what I can bring.”
Roy, a Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender, took over as the Islanders` coach in January 2024. He guided the team to the postseason with a strong finish in 2024, but they fell short this time, missing the playoffs for the second time in four seasons since they began playing at UBS Arena. Both Darche and Roy hail from the province of Quebec.
“Patrick is a winner,” commented Darche, who met the 59-year-old Roy recently for the first time. “I am extremely comfortable and excited to be working with him. I know he’s passionate and he works hard.”
Islanders co-owner John Collins echoed the positive sentiments about the incoming head of hockey operations, who also possesses a business background outside of hockey and holds a degree from McGill University in Montreal.
“There’s a championship legacy here that needs to move forward. We believe strongly that Mathieu Darche understands how to make that happen,” Collins stated. “He was an important part of Stanley Cup success in Tampa Bay, and we see him as a team builder with a bright future for us.”
Darche acknowledged he has considerable work ahead. He mentioned speaking with nearly every player on the Islanders roster and plans to focus on the upcoming draft, where the Islanders have the number one pick, in addition to addressing pending free agents in the weeks to come.
“You’ve entrusted me with hockey operations of this franchise and it’s not something I take lightly,” Darche said. “I want this team to be a perennial playoff team … It’s not always a straight line but every single day, every decision I make will be not for Mathieu Darche — not for anybody else — but the best thing for the New York Islanders.”
Islanders captain Anders Lee, who will turn 35 in July and enter his 14th season with the team, shared that his initial impressions of the new general manager have been entirely positive.
“Mathieu will come in with a lot of ideas. He’s seen how things have worked in Tampa. He has a vision for this group and this organization,” said Lee. “We all have the same goal here. We want to be playing games in May, knocking on the door of the Stanley Cup.”
Lee also credited the 82-year-old Lamoriello with having a significant impact during his seven years leading the Islanders.
“Lou meant a lot. He was a mentor and someone you could lean on, someone you could go to for things outside of hockey,” Lee commented. “Lou has seen it all and he’s done it with high character and great values. He’s a man of his word. He made a lot of guys in that room not just better hockey players, but better men.”
Duncan Priestley 
Neville Woodall