NHL News: Islanders Make Decision on New GM

Mathieu Darche has been named executive vice president and GM of the NY Islanders.

It's official. After a several-week search, the New York Islanders have finally got themselves a new general manager, naming former Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Mathieu Darche as their boss of hockey operations.

#Isles News: The New York Islanders today named Mathieu Darche General Manager and Executive Vice President. Darche will manage all aspects of the team’s hockey operations.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) May 23, 2025

Darche was named executive vice president and GM, and, "will manage all aspects of the team’s hockey operations." He has been the assistant GM for the last three years in Tampa, and was part of their two Stanley Cup championships as the Director of Hockey Operations.

Darche called 'the perfect choice' to lead the Islanders hockey operations as GM

“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.

"Mathieu has served as a key member of the Tampa Bay Lightning and has a diverse background in top-level business models. He is a proven winner and is committed, as is our ownership group, to building a group that will be highly competitive next season and beyond.”

Darche, 48, is stepping into a nice situation, as the Islanders own the No. 1 pick in next month's NHL Draft, and have some top players, including All-Star goalie Ilya Sorokin, along with Bo Horvat, Mat Barzal and Anders Lee up front and RFA Noah Dobson on the blueline. The team must still decide on whether to try to re-sign UFA Kyle Palmieri.

The Islanders decided not to bring back 82-year-old Lou Lamoriello as the team's GM after the season. The team missed the playoffs for the second time in the last four years.

The team had earlier asked for, and been granted permission this past week, to speak with outgoing Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan.