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.

It’s been several years since Mathieu Darche first emerged as a candidate to become an NHL general manager. As the Lightning’s assistant GM and director of hockey operations, he has been Julien BriseBois’ right-hand man in leading the team’s hockey operations department.

The New York Islanders have hired Mathieu Darche as their general manager. Darche joins the Islanders after spending the past six seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning.