Darche Continues Building Islanders From Ground Up: Pascal Dupuis The Latest Foundational Block
While fans are focused on the Islanders' lack of NHL additions, Mathieu Darche continues investing in the development system tasked with producing the team's next wave of talent.
Fans are growing concerned about the quiet surrounding the New York Islanders as we approach the 2026 NHL Draft.
That concern grew on Tuesday, as we saw three different potential trade options land elsewhere.
Jordan Kyrou waived his no-trade clause to join the Washington Capitals, William Eklund is now a member of the Ottawa Senators, and Simon Nemec, along with former Islander Maxim Tsyplakov, was shipped to the Calgary Flames.
Oh, and the Buffalo Sabres got a haul for defenseman Bo Byram, who is now a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Islanders, who have missed the playoffs the last two seasons and own the 13th overall pick, haven’t made any upgrades to their roster during these early offseason months, and they certainly could use some help in all areas of the ice.
While fans understandably want roster upgrades, Darche has spent much of his first year rebuilding another critical area of the organization: player development.
And Darche’s latest move — the hiring of former NHLer and two-time Stanley Cup champion Pascal Dupuis as the club’s newest Director of Player Development — further emphasizes his plan to get the next wave of Islanders ready as he navigates what could be significant roster turnover in the summer of 2027.