From the moment that Mathieu Darche’s name surfaced as a top candidate to succeed Lou Lamoriello as Islanders General Manager, fans all over Islanders Country were excited because of the success that he had as Assistant General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning including two Stanley Cup titles.
But as he was formally introduced as the Islanders’ new General Manager and Executive Vice-President at Thursday’s press conference in the UBS Club at UBS Arena, Darche immediately endeared himself to all those who bleed orange and blue.
“It's a passionate fan base,” said Darche. “I’ve seen it in the playoffs. It’s outstanding. There’s a history with this team. My wife and I love the New York area. I’m looking forward to moving on Long Island. My wife is already house-hunting. We’re excited. We want to get involved in the community.”
Darche gets it.
It’s “on Long Island” and now he will try to bring the Stanley Cup back to the region for the first time since 1983. He is respectful of the Islanders’ past, but it’s now time to create some new core memories for Islanders fans of all ages.
“Every day, my focus will be to improve the New York Islanders and make us a winning organization,” said Darche. “I want this team to be a perennial playoff team and once you get in the playoffs you have to go for the Stanley Cup. That’s the goal. It’s not always a straight line every single day. Every decision I will make will be not for Mathieu Darche, not for anybody else but the best thing for the New York Islanders.”
“There is a championship legacy here that needs to move forward,” said Islanders Operating Partner John Collins. “We believe strongly that Mathieu Darche understands how to make that happen. He has been an important part of Stanley Cup success in Tampa Bay and we see him as a team builder with a bright future for us. We’re really looking forward to getting started on building something special here.”
Darche wasted no time in putting his fingerprints on the Islanders organization with several important announcements at his introductory press conference.
-Patrick Roy will return next season but there will be changes to the coaching staff as the team is moving on from assistants John MacLean and Tommy Albelin.
-The Islanders’ AHL team in Bridgeport will have a new coaching staff next season.
-There will be a developmental camp for prospects following the NHL Draft.
The goal for Darche is to take the Islanders to the promised land, just like the dynasty years in the early 80’s.
“It's awesome because this brand is strong around the NHL. It’s a storied franchise,” said Darche. “I got to meet Butch Goring this morning. Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier…those are the guys I remember from when I played. We want to create our own legacy. We want to create our own success.”
The UBS Club was packed for the press conference with media, Islanders and UBS Arena employees and other invited guests. The ice in Elmont has long been melted since the end of the regular season as the Islanders failed to make the playoffs, but there is hope that May and June hockey will soon be part of the Isles’ future.
“We would always prefer to host an Islanders game in late May as opposed to an Islanders press conference,” said Collins. “We have a lot of confidence that, at some point in the near future, Islanders fans will be coming to UBS Arena to watch Islanders games this time of the year.”
Following his press conference, the next order of business for Mathieu Darche is preparing for the NHL Draft as the Islanders own the first overall pick on June 27th. He will also address the Islanders’ impending free agents, restricted and unrestricted, and work with Head Coach Patrick Roy on hiring new assistant coaches.
Darche has certainly been busy during his first week or so on the job meeting the staff, getting in touch with the players, and calling season ticket holders.
And on Thursday, he had everyone in Islanders Country at “on Long Island”.