Mathieu Darche Hired As General Manager Of New York Islanders
Mathieu Darche is set to be announced as the new General Manager of the New York Islanders, according to multiple reports. Mathieu Darche is only 48 years old. He has spent the last few years helping build the Tampa Bay Lightning into a powerhouse alongside Julien BriseBois.
Mathieu Darche is known for being modern-minded, analytically inclined, and deeply respected across the league. Islanders fans welcome the hiring and are anxious to move on from the Lamiarrillo era. Do you think this hiring will make much of a difference?
Mathieu Darche Biography
Mathieu Darche played hockey at Choate Rosemary Hall and graduated in 1996. He has a commerce degree in marketing and international business from McGill University in Canada. While attending university, Darche played four seasons of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) hockey, where in his last year, he was named the CIS Outstanding student-athlete and was awarded the Dr. Randy Gregg Award.
Mathieu Darche played hockey professionally. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he spent a full season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. He played for the Füchse Duisburg of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in 2005–06 and also split four seasons between the National Hockey League and American Hockey League with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, and their minor league affiliates.
In 2006–07, he played a few games with the San Jose Sharks, but he spent most of the season playing for the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Worcester Sharks. In 2007–08, Darche played with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With whom he went into management.
Other Candidates and Moves
Lamirillo was both the Islanders’ General Manager and President of Hockey Operations. The hiring of Mathieu Darche as Islanders General Manager culminates a month-long search that vexed fans of the team. There were other General Manager possibilities. Marc Beregvin was reported to be the other finalist for the General Manager job, as the former Montreal General Manager had a second interview with the team.
The Islanders also spoke to Ken Holland before he turned to the vacant Los Angeles Kings job. Holland lives on the West Coast, so it makes sense that he would replace Rob Blake. The Islanders were unable to speak to Canadiens executive and former New York Rangers General Manager, Jeff Gorton.
What does the hiring of Mathieu Darche mean for the President of Hockey Operations job, the other half of Lamariallo’s gig? What specifically does it mean for Brendan Shanahan? That is yet to be seen. The Islanders asked for permission to speak to Shanahan two days ago, but it is unclear whether he would take a job without having been part of the General Manager process. Shanahan left the Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday.
The complicated search process is being led by John Collins and the ownership group. The process has taken a month so far. Fans are anxious to move on from the disastrous Lamariallo era. Things could be looking up for the Islanders, who have the top overall pick in the upcoming National Hockey League draft. They also have a couple of good prospects and a bunch of bad contracts with aged players.
Conclusion
It is time to move forward on Long Island. Several important decisions need to be made, like who to pick first overall in the upcoming draft. The Islanders also need to remake their minor leagues, with an American Hockey League affiliate in Bridgeport.
