Mathieu Darche to Become GM of the Islanders

[Olliemets]

His specialty is bargain bin shopping. He can make players into great bottom/middle 6ers as reclamation projects but cannot acquire/develop any high-end talent.

Already had one of those in Snow, who picked a few decent ones off the garbage pile (M Moulson) but was otherwise underwhelming.

 

[le_sean]

His specialty is bargain bin shopping. He can make players into great bottom/middle 6ers as reclamation projects but cannot acquire/develop any high-end talent.

In fact he was completely unwilling to do it. Had Radulov yet let him walk for free. Only time he traded a 1st was because he lost Kotkaniemi and panic bought Dvorak.

All of this is while having prime Price, Subban and Pacioretty. Completely incapable of finding talent to support them.

And on the other side of this, while fumbling great pieces, he was not good at rebuilding either. His draft record stunk.

 

[Stive Morgan]

Who did you hear it from...?

Just various insiders/analysts/players over the years. Always heard good things about him as a person. I'm talking like 20 years ago when he was on the Habs. Of course no one can truly know without actually being on the team.

 

[2ndGenIslander]

General feeling is if Islanders come out of the draft with Hagens, it will be Upper Management pushing for it due to marketing possibilities.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day saying "Bring Hagens Home!". I was getting ready to have a light argument but i was on foot and they drove away

 

[Stive Morgan]

In fact he was completely unwilling to do it. Had Radulov yet let him walk for free. Only time he traded a 1st was because he lost Kotkaniemi and panic bought Dvorak.

All of this is while having prime Price, Subban and Pacioretty. Completely incapable of finding talent to support them.

And on the other side of this, while fumbling great pieces, he was not good at rebuilding either. His draft record stunk.

Losing Markov and Radulov in the same off-season has to be one of the greatest GM blunders of all time.

No wonder we only had 29 wins the next season lmao. Let's lose our best Dman and best offensive player we've had in years for nothing. Brilliant. From 1st in the Atlantic to drafting 1st overall. Great job Marc!

 

[Osakahaus]

Already had one of those in Snow, who picked a few decent ones off the garbage pile (M Moulson) but was otherwise underwhelming.

isles had an even worse budget back when Snow was general manager. I would hope to see at least more money in the pockets of Malkin and Ledecky because this team does need a big makeover soon. Its time to start spending,

 

[Osakahaus]

I saw a bumper sticker the other day saying "Bring Hagens Home!". I was getting ready to have a light argument but i was on foot and they drove away

Hagens ain't worth it. Islanders could draft Frondell and I would be happy.

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

General feeling is if Islanders come out of the draft with Hagens, it will be Upper Management pushing for it due to marketing possibilities.

Nah. They’re probably taking Schaefer. If they want Hagens too, they’ll have to trade up with other assets. As much as I like the idea of a local isles fan being on the isles, I don’t see it with the first pick.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Official Islanders will win a cup before Los Angeles.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Good hire

Should be an interesting offseason for NYI will they retool or rebuild

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

Good hire

Should be an interesting offseason for NYI will they retool or rebuild

They’ll retool. They still have some good players in their primes.

 

[Colezuki]

is it confirmed this is a GM only situation, or do we feel there will also be a POHO?

 

[brentashton]

Of everything rumored, the best outcome was Darche.

At one point Holland was a sure thing

No love for the Shanahan-Holland juggernaut, lol!

 

[coooldude]

They’ll retool. They still have some good players in their primes.

The big debate on the Sharks boards obviously is whether "retool" vs "rebuild" means they might take the 1C over the 1D. Misa could be in the NHL and contributing within 2 years, Schaefer being as young as he is could take longer. Plus, 1C's in the top 3 have better historical outcomes than 1D's.

To be clear, if it were me, I'd take Schaefer and not look back, but Sharks fans are trying to figure out if there's any world where the ownership gives a mandate for him to turn it around relatively quickly and in that case, given the dynamics at the top of the draft, maybe they let Schaefer drop.

I'm sure they already know what they're going to do given scouting meetings have all happened and Darche would certainly have had to pitch his plan at 1OA to ownership... now we just have to wait 5 weeks to figure out what that plan is, and it may say a fair bit about rebuild vs. retool (once draft + FA dust settles NYI fans will hopefully start to see a vision).

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

is it confirmed this is a GM only situation, or do we feel there will also be a POHO?

I read that it would be a GM position reporting directly to ownership. Skipping the POHO position.

 

[DollardStLaurent]

Let Hagens play 3 more years at BC and become a FA and then sign with the Isles.

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

The big debate on the Sharks boards obviously is whether "retool" vs "rebuild" means they might take the 1C over the 1D. Misa could be in the NHL and contributing within 2 years, Schaefer being as young as he is could take longer. Plus, 1C's in the top 3 have better historical outcomes than 1D's.

To be clear, if it were me, I'd take Schaefer and not look back, but Sharks fans are trying to figure out if there's any world where the ownership gives a mandate for him to turn it around relatively quickly and in that case, given the dynamics at the top of the draft, maybe they let Schaefer drop.

I'm sure they already know what they're going to do given scouting meetings have all happened and Darche would certainly have had to pitch his plan at 1OA to ownership... now we just have to wait 5 weeks to figure out what that plan is, and it may say a fair bit about rebuild vs. retool (once draft + FA dust settles NYI fans will hopefully start to see a vision).

This is a good ownership group. They’ll take best player available (Schaefer) and accept the time and growing pains that come with a young defenseman.

 

[L4br3cqu3]

I think he was also responsible for Vietnam and the 2nd World War........lol!!!Yet the Habs went to the finals.....what a joke of a post!

He's right, you're not, that's all.

 

[MMC]

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

I think he was also responsible for Vietnam and the 2nd World War........lol!!!Yet the Habs went to the finals.....what a joke of a post!

The books I read say that Hiller was responsible for WW2. So that’s on the Kings.

 

[The Real JT]

Official Islanders will win a cup before NYR Los Angeles.

More better.

 

[Mike C]

Of everything rumored, the best outcome was Darche.

At one point Holland was a sure thing

Comes from a winning organization that is competitive every year despite salary cap. I think this is a good hire. Hope he keeps Roy, unless Cooper wants to jump ship with him

 

[seafoam]

Love it!!!

 

[Mike C]

Already had one of those in Snow, who picked a few decent ones off the garbage pile (M Moulson) but was otherwise underwhelming.

Underwhelming and the Islanders have been hand and glove since Barry was "relieved of his duties"

 

[DiglettDangles]

I don't think I've ever heard of a hockey ops guy take his journey to GM as seriously as Darche. So many times teams end up hiring some old timer's son or an old star player with zero qualifications other than good contacts. He recognized that he wouldn't get any of that fast track help and went to work.

He's basically worked at every step of a hockey org, went to university to develop complementary/real-world management skills, I think he also negotiated for the NHLPA... basically he built himself the ideal resume and I'm glad he gets a shot . I hope he gets to show the NHL what an overly qualified manager can do for a change.

Preparation isn't everything though. Let's see how the GM group will welcome him, if they'll deal with him or kind of treat him as an outsider because he actually is qualified. The last thing on his list is to build an aura, and once again he'll have to deserve it.