Andrew Gross: Islanders GM Mathieu Darche's proactive approach is a big win
Islanders GM Mathieu Darche watches practice during prospect development camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center at Eisenhower Park on June 30. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
Two trades in two days with the Islanders’ two closest geographical rivals to fill the two biggest lineup holes prove two things about first-year general manager Mathieu Darche.
One, he believes in this group’s playoff potential beyond just qualifying for the postseason. Two, the GM again showed he is proactive in acquiring defenseman Carson Soucy from the Rangers and wing Ondrej Palat from the Devils, something first evidenced this offseason when he didn’t hesitate to deal defenseman Noah Dobson to the Canadiens when contract talks stalled.
“We’re bringing some experience in the NHL to help us,” Darche said. “I want to reward the players for putting us in this position to get to the playoffs. I felt like without being crazy moves, these are two players that will help us as we push toward the playoffs.”
Both acquisitions paid immediate dividends as the Islanders (29-19-5) won their third straight over the Rangers, 5-2, following up Monday’s dominant 4-0 win in Philadelphia. Soucy formed a solid veteran third pair with Scott Mayfield as the defense corps also got a boost with Ryan Pulock returning from a two-game absence for an upper-body injury.
The feel-good performance started with Palat opening the scoring with a power-play goal then adding an assist. Mathew Barzal added another power-play goal to start a three-goal second period, Simon Holmstrom had a goal and two assists, Jean-Gabriel Pageau had a goal and an assist and David Rittich made 14 saves.
The Islanders solidified their hold on third place in the Metropolitan Division but the timing of the deals well in advance of the NHL trade deadline on March 6 was no accident.
The Islanders, who face the Rangers again on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, are still just 7-5-1 in January. Defenseman Alexander Romanov (right shoulder) and top-six wing Kyle Palmieri (left knee) were both lost for the regular season in November and now center Cal Ritchie (lower body/day-to-day) is absent, too, though Pulock returned.
Darche acquired Soucy, a pending unrestricted free agent, for a third-round pick in 2026. But he got a third-round pick back plus a sixth-rounder in 2027 and Palat, in the fourth season of a five-year, $30 million deal, for underperforming forward Max Tsyplakov.
“It’s good for the players,” coach Patrick Roy said. “What I love is we haven’t touched our draft picks. Actually, we added a draft pick. We do believe that today we’re a better team than we were yesterday.”
As to why now, entering this important stretch of games and with the three-week Olympic break starting on Feb. 6?
“At the end of the day, why wait until the deadline when we have important games against our division,” Darche said. “I wanted to push our team and to show our players that, ‘Hey, I want to make the playoffs.’
“I like it because it gives us a few games. It gives them the Olympic break for the guys to settle in. Luckily for them, they’re not moving too far.”
Salary-cap space this season is not an issue with Palmieri and Romanov, forward Pierre Engvall and goalie Semyon Varlamov all on long-term injured reserve.
Also, acquiring Soucy and Palat will not preclude Darche from further trades before March 6. And Darche said he would not hesitate to use one of the Islanders’ two first-round picks in this year’s draft for what he considered the right move.
And with the salary-cap ceiling projected to rise another $8.5 million to $104 million, the Islanders are in good shape for next season, too.
Right now, the Islanders have a projected $22.5 million in space for 2026-27 and $57.5 million for the following season, when the cap ceiling is projected to be $113.5 million.
“If something else comes up that I can improve the team, I’ll look at it,” Darche said. “I still have some cap flexibility.”
The value of seeing a pro-active GM making these types of moves is almost immeasurable to the players.
“It’s a strong message to the group that there is belief and that’s a powerful message,” said Rangers coach Mike Sullivan, who won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. “When the GM is proactive in that regard to try and help the cause, I think it goes a long way with the players.”
Darche showed two things in the two days. And both were good for the Islanders.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
