New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche has listed 5 names on the roster that he considers off limits to other teams. The New York Islanders have themselves a new general manager, and he's already making an impact.

New Islanders GM Mathieu Darche should make his stamp on the team by trading JG Pageau this offseason. Who are the best suitors?

While Roy is keeping his job, the coaching staff will experience some turnover. Darche said assistants John MacLean and Tommy Albelin won't be back. The upheaval is extending to the Bridgeport Islanders, New York's AHL affiliate, with their coaches being let go as well.

New Islanders general manager/executive vice president Mathieu Darche has a long to-do list as he settles into his first opportunity to run an NHL team. But, in less than a week on the job, he decided he was comfortable working with coach and fellow French-Canadian Patrick Roy.

The New York Islanders jumped 10 spots in the 2025 Draft Lottery, cashing in on their 3.5 percent odds to land the No. 1 overall pick after finishing 23rd out of 32 teams during the 2024-25 season. It was a massive windfall for the Islanders, but the timing couldn’t have been funkier.

The 48-year-old former NHL forward, who spent the previous six seasons — including two Stanley Cups — with the Lightning, takes control of the team’s hockey operations department from Lou Lamoriello.

As part of Tom Fitzgerald’s quest to revamp the New Jersey Devils’ bottom-six, he’ll need a solidified third-line center. They could look externally for one, but they don’t necessarily have to. They have an option in-house that certainly could be a solution that allows them to focus on scoring wingers.

“Not often you get a job and the first thing you have to do is pick the best player in the draft,” Darche said Thursday at his introductory press conference as Islanders general manager. “Listen, I expect us to make the pick at the end of next month.