Darche Gets Candid With the STM's

I was one of the season ticket members that had the opportunity to have a virtual chat with Islanders GM Mathieu Darche, and MSG's Thomas Hickey.  A 30 minute session which provided a nice insight to what our new hockey boss is looking for from his team, as well as what to expect the organization to show in a distinct culture change from past seasons.

Not that I was a critic of the prior administration; I was neither a supporter or opponent.  However, it is a welcoming change of pace, showing that the organization realizes that we had to move from an 80 plus year old manager with very old school and 1990s practices, and get someone that embraces what the current state of the NHL needs to be.

I like that although he mentioned a bit about Matthew Schaefer and Victor Eklund, he spent some time talking about the other first round pick Kashawn Aitchenson.  The videos show how nasty he can be - we have all seen it - but I think his offensive game is so under appreciated (third in the OHL in goals by a backliner).  His one need is to be a bit more stronger in his skating - you can see that work definitely needs to be done.  It is not a deficiency, but a place for improvement - that will make Kashawn a more well rounded player.

Darche explained that Patrick Roy's relationship in selecting the coaches was a great factor in who they selected.  Bob Boughner, a former NHL head coach with San Jose will handle the defense, and Ray Bennett - the former power play head in offensively gifted Colorado, is now in charge of last year's 32nd rank power play.  The addition of Jonathan Drouin, a former PP1 player in Colorado is going to be a huge help in making the 5 on 4 better than last season.  On a personal note, i always thought that Drouin was such a better player than his numbers showes in Montreal, but the extreme pressure of playing in La Belle Province as a Francophone can either be very good, or very bad.  His past two seasons in Colorado have been nearly a point per game average, but we don't have a Nathan Mackinnon to team with (Barzy will be fine, but he is not 29).  

Darche talked about taking time off - a two week holiday coming up - and then back to the grind to start the season.  Affable, a straight shooter, to go with the French infused English accent, and you got a man that is extremely excited for the upcoming season.  I feel that this organization is going in the right direction both in the hockey department and in an overall sense, showing that although the previous managment changed the culture from the past and made it better, but now the tires need to be refilled, and the engine tuned up to match the 2025 state of the league.  The enthusiasm of our new General Manager is obvious.  The attitude, not confrontation but relaxed with a touch of serious is just the panacea this team needs to move them to a better level of compete.  

I also think that this helps the coach.  There was a lot of talk that the prior GM and the head coach were at serious odds a lot of the time.  A change needed to happen, and hopefully the conversation between the GM and Coach will be in happy French!

In the opinion of this author, this team is NOT as bad as everyone seems.  A change of pace, getting a but younger and faster, and the possible infusion of such a popular and passionate young man on the blue line, could be the start of a positive trend.  I am not predicting a cup - but I feel that this Islander team is stepping in the right path.

Get on board....