I asked
ChatGPT who the Isles next hire would be, and he/she/it replied...
Prediction: Mathieu Darche
Why I Think He’s the Pick:
1. Darche has had multiple interviews with the Islanders. In searches like this, that alone puts you in the top tier. If the job were going to someone like Jarmo Kekäläinen or Marc Bergevin, it likely would’ve been announced by now. Darche’s continued involvement signals strong interest from both sides.
2. Darche is part of the new wave of GMs: smart, collaborative, analytics-aware, and player-friendly. His experience in Tampa—arguably the NHL’s gold standard for sustainable success—makes him attractive to an Islanders team that needs to modernize without blowing everything up.
3. Marc Bergevin has experience, sure—but his time in Montreal was turbulent. He had locker room issues, made polarizing trades, and his old-school style could feel too close to the Lamoriello era the Islanders just ended. Bergevin feels more like a safety net if Darche doesn’t commit.
4. With the #1 overall pick coming and a likely pivot toward retooling or rebuilding, the Isles need a GM with the vision and patience to build a multi-year plan. That’s not Bergevin’s strength—he’s more of a “win-now” builder. Darche, by contrast, is well-suited to lead a draft-and-develop approach, which will be critical going forward.
5. Darche brings no baggage, communicates well, and isn’t seen as polarizing in league circles. That matters in a franchise like the Islanders—small market by hockey standards, media-shy ownership, and a fanbase that’s exhausted from inconsistency.
Bottom Line:
Mathieu Darche is the most logical, modern, and forward-leaning choice for the Islanders' next GM. Unless something unexpected happens in negotiations or someone comes out of left field, I believe
he will be hired—likely paired with a more established President of Hockey Ops (possibly Shanahan or someone similar) to support his transition.
Let me know if you want a comparison chart or mock org structure for how things could shake out.
