Darche took his 2000 McGill University commerce degree, majoring in marketing and international business, into the NHL as a player and most recently as assistant GM and director of hockey operations with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Under GM Julien BriseBois, he helped the Lightning win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.

The Islanders officially are Mathieu Darche’s to run. The team on Friday named the 48-year-old Darche — the Lightning’s assistant general manager/director of hockey operations — as GM/executive vice president, ending a search to find a successor to Lou Lamoriello that lasted nearly a month.

The New York Islanders have hired Mathieu Darche as their next general manager. TSN's Pierre LeBrun first reported the hire. Darche will succeed Lou Lamoriello, who had run New York's front office from 2018-19. The Islanders let Lamoriello go after they missed the playoffs this season.