Mathieu Darche Q&A: On Goalie Coach Change, Injuries, Bridgeport, & Matthew Schaefer’s Start
Here’s the latest from today’s chat with Darche.
EAST MEADOW, NY — Following Wednesday’s practice, we spoke with New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche on a variety of topics.
From the firing of goalie coach Piero Greco, to injury updates, Matthew Schaefer, Bridgeport & what he’s seen from his team, here’s the latest:
Darche on Goalie Coach Change (Pierre Greco → Sergey Naumov)
Q: What prompted a goalie coach change this early in the season?
Darche: “Piero has done a great job for the organization for the last seven years. We just felt that at this time it was the right time to have a reset with our goalies. There’s obviously a history with Sergey and Ilya, and we just made that decision going forward to have a little reset for our goalies.”
Q: Was it something you discussed with Ilya Sorokin?
Darche: “No, it’s my decision. It’s not on the player. The players will never tell you, ‘Hey, I want this coach or that coach.’ I know he’s had success with Sergey, and that’s where we went. It’s 100% my decision — the goalie had nothing to do with it.
Q: Has Sergey worked with Sorokin since training camp?
Darche: They worked together at training camp and in the summer. He’s been his goalie coach in Russia even before he came over. But when he was here, Piero was working with him. Now we’re going to give Sergey an opportunity to work with our goalies.”
Q: Who will handle things in Bridgeport?
Darche: “Chris Terreri is going to help us right now in Bridgeport during the transition, and then we’ll see where we go on that aspect.
Darche on Injuries & Roster Management
Q: Any update on Alexander Romanov? Will you call anyone up?
Darche: “We’re looking at things. He won’t play tomorrow, and I doubt he plays on Saturday. Hopefully next week. It’s nothing serious, just something we have to deal with — an upper-body issue. But I wouldn’t expect him in the next two games.”
Q: Do you have any updates on Semyon Varlamov or Pierre Engvall?
Darche: “Pierre had surgery yesterday morning on his ankle. He’ll likely be out for five to six months — most likely the season. Varley’s progressing — he’s moved to dropping down more and testing his knee. He was on the ice this morning. But Pierre will be out for a while.”
Q: Wasn’t Engvall’s issue his hip?
Darche: “He did have a hip issue, but he also had an ankle problem from before and through the surgery. His ankle flared up again, so we decided to get it fixed now so it doesn’t linger. He still has term on his contract, so instead of him playing not at full strength, we might as well get it fixed rather than him playing hurt.”
*Darche won’t put Varlamov or Engvall on LTIR unless he needs the cap space, which he doesn’t at this time
Darche on Bridgeport and AHL Development
Q: What have you seen from Rocky Thompson’s group in Bridgeport?
Darche: “The energy’s been awesome. I was there for a 6–2 win last weekend and watched part of another game from Ottawa. We were up 3–0, then 3–1… then I got home and saw we lost. That happens sometimes. But overall, they’ve done a great job. Cal Ritchie’s been great, Beckman’s back from suspension, and Gauthier’s almost back. It’s a big step forward with how the team’s playing and competing.”
Darche on What He’s Seen from Schaefer & the Team
Q: You’ve won three straight. What’s stood out about the team’s play?
Darche: “Well, we can score goals. We obviously have to limit chances a bit, which we were changing the style of play. So there’s some growing pains going through it, which is why we’re giving up a bit too much. Ilya, I thought he played a really solid game yesterday, gave us a chance, and we scored. What I like is that our power plays look good, even in some games where we didn’t score. I thought we had a lot of zone time. And you look at analytics, and we were -- I didn’t check yet this morning, but we were first in the league for o-zone possession time, first in controlled entry in the zone, so we’re getting o-zone time. And yesterday, the power play probably won us the game outside the shorthand and goal but and the PK like we’ve had some goals go in, but there’s quite a few in the last 10 seconds of a power play, which kind of sucks, because you do a good job for a minute 50, and then you get a goal, but it gives you a power play goal against. And the PK did a great job. Yesterday, we didn’t give them much on their power play, but five on five overall, we do have to do a better job managing the puck. To me, it’s not even about a structure. Should we just, we just mismanage the puck at times, and that’s what we have to fix. But we got out of those games with wins, even if we, at times, were sloppy with a puck, but the guys know it. They take a lot of pride in that, and it’s a work in progress.”
Q: You’ve spoken a lot about Matthew Schaefer — what have you thought of his play so far?
Darche: “He’s a pretty good hockey player (smiles). What impresses me most is how he defends — with his legs, closing plays…his legs are sick… He’s 18, there are learning moments, but he’s been great. He’s already a big part of our team. I can’t take credit for the lottery win before I got here — but I sure got lucky. He’s a special player.
Q: He’s approaching his nine-game mark — any thoughts on that?
Darche: We’ve got three more to go. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to read the tea leaves, right? (laughs) I haven’t talked to the Erie GM yet, but I’m sure he’s watching and not expecting him in his lineup anytime soon.