Mathieu Darche’s 5 Biggest Moves Since Leaving Tampa For The Islanders
How Mathieu Darche reshaped the Islanders in months: key staff decisions, the Dobson trade, Schaefer’s development, and a culture reset on Long Island.
TAMPA, FL — On Tuesday night, Mathieu Darche’s New York Islanders went head-to-head with his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, for the first time since he departed the organization this past summer.
Darche joined Tampa in 2019 as Director of Hockey Operations before rising to Assistant General Manager. During that tenure, he won two Stanley Cups — going through the Island twice to do so (2020, 2021).
And while there’s no animosity toward Tampa — especially not toward his mentor Julien BriseBois — there’s no question Darche wanted that win. The Islanders delivered it, 2–1.
Tonight, he’ll want another. And it will almost certainly be emotional: a return to a city and an organization that gave him a chance to re-enter hockey after retiring from pro play in 2012.
For Darche, it’s also a moment of reflection. He’d interviewed for multiple GM roles in recent years and came close more than once, but never got the opportunity.
The Islanders gave him that shot on May 23. So far, he’s done more than prove he’s capable — he’s helped reconnect a fan base that the previous regime had pushed away.
The biggest headline of the Islanders’ offseason was winning the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery — something that happened before Darche’s arrival. But nearly everything he’s done since has reshaped the organization’s outlook.