Not ideal but palatable. I guess that’s a thing for every new GM in order to get rid of the previous administrations flub ups. Lou had to give up assets for the coyotes to take Andrew Badd.
- kindlyrick

How does a GM not know to not give bad contracts to players like Pierre and Mayfield instead of signing UFA's to one-year deals or using someone from Bridge?

Not ideal but palatable. I guess that’s a thing for every new GM in order to get rid of the previous administrations flub ups. Lou had to give up assets for the coyotes to take Andrew Badd.
- kindlyrick

I'd prefer to just move him vs. buying him out, if that were possible. Maybe he wants to go finish his career at home in St. Louis and something can be worked out there. Maybe we take back Nick Leddy (in the final year of his contract @ $4M) and send them Mayfield. Let Leddy finish his deal and then we've moved out that kind of salary without having to pay to do it or extend buyout payments way into the future.

Maybe Pulock wants to go home and play for a contender in Winnipeg. They have the cap space to do it (albeit only having 8 fwds currently signed for next year) and are one of the better teams in the league...plus it's home for him. Who knows, I don't think anything is a guarantee but both players would have to willingly accept a trade in order to go anywhere (short of buying them out, obviously) and if they don't want to go they don't have to.

How does a GM not know to not give bad contracts to players like Pierre and Mayfield instead of signing UFA's to one-year deals or using someone from Bridge?
- ses111

Well that just tells us that Lou couldn’t sign UFAs for whatever the reason. Like Snow, Lou had to “overpay” to keep his players. I feel like Lou’s way of gaining loyalty was paying for it. There’s no reason why he gave Scott Mayfield a NTC….thats 100% a favor for him signing with the isles vs testing the market.

I'd prefer to just move him vs. buying him out, if that were possible. Maybe he wants to go finish his career at home in St. Louis and something can be worked out there. Maybe we take back Nick Leddy (in the final year of his contract @ $4M) and send them Mayfield. Let Leddy finish his deal and then we've moved out that kind of salary without having to pay to do it or extend buyout payments way into the future.

Maybe Pulock wants to go home and play for a contender in Winnipeg. They have the cap space to do it (albeit only having 8 fwds currently signed for next year) and are one of the better teams in the league...plus it's home for him. Who knows, I don't think anything is a guarantee but both players would have to willingly accept a trade in order to go anywhere (short of buying them out, obviously) and if they don't want to go they don't have to.
- Gabe Athaus

I'd take Leddy back, but I'd think we would have to add more to the deal.

I would think Pulock would want to take a shot at winning, but these players seem to be built differently today.

I'd prefer to just move him vs. buying him out, if that were possible. Maybe he wants to go finish his career at home in St. Louis and something can be worked out there. Maybe we take back Nick Leddy (in the final year of his contract @ $4M) and send them Mayfield. Let Leddy finish his deal and then we've moved out that kind of salary without having to pay to do it or extend buyout payments way into the future.

Maybe Pulock wants to go home and play for a contender in Winnipeg. They have the cap space to do it (albeit only having 8 fwds currently signed for next year) and are one of the better teams in the league...plus it's home for him. Who knows, I don't think anything is a guarantee but both players would have to willingly accept a trade in order to go anywhere (short of buying them out, obviously) and if they don't want to go they don't have to.
- Gabe Athaus

Yeah both scenarios make sense. A key difference has to be Darche making the best trades for the franchise vs being loyal to the player, which appears to have been Lou’s business model.

Yeah both scenarios make sense. A key difference has to be Darche making the best trades for the franchise vs being loyal to the player, which appears to have been Lou’s business model.
- kindlyrick

We don't have much to go on regarding how Darche operates, but he was a part of the front office that made the tough decision of moving on from a franchise legend in Stamkos and not giving him a contract (over a certain term/value, anyway) when they thought his best days were behind him. Nobody knows if that was a move Darche supported or was against, so it doesn't mean a ton here, but it's....something?

We don't have much to go on regarding how Darche operates, but he was a part of the front office that made the tough decision of moving on from a franchise legend in Stamkos and not giving him a contract (over a certain term/value, anyway) when they thought his best days were behind him. Nobody knows if that was a move Darche supported or was against, so it doesn't mean a ton here, but it's....something?
- Gabe Athaus

Well the thing to point out was they had a plan in place and executed it immediately by bringing in Jake Guetzel (coming off an ECF) to replace the lost pts by Stamkos

Ultimately it’s being active. I like that. Standing pat isn’t proven to show results. You have to continue to move players and get younger, rinse repeat.

Well the thing to point out was they had a plan in place and executed it immediately by bringing in Jake Guetzel (coming off an ECF) to replace the lost pts by Stamkos

Ultimately it’s being active. I like that. Standing pat isn’t proven to show results. You have to continue to move players and get younger, rinse repeat.
- kindlyrick

The winning teams are never satisfied with the roster and are always looking to improve. The Islanders have not had a solid plan for years and their offseasons have proven it.

Well the thing to point out was they had a plan in place and executed it immediately by bringing in Jake Guetzel (coming off an ECF) to replace the lost pts by Stamkos

Ultimately it’s being active. I like that. Standing pat isn’t proven to show results. You have to continue to move players and get younger, rinse repeat.
- kindlyrick

For sure, definitely need to evaluate contract extensions based mostly on what they're going to do in the future and not entirely based off what they've done in the past. Don't need to be signing 29/30 year old guys to 8 year deals because they've been good soldiers previously. There will always be the case where an elite star needs a deal at that age and that's a different story, but you better make damn sure the present is going to justify the tail-end of the deal when it becomes a burden.

Roy stays for at least next season, John MacLean/Tommy Albelin out.

Looks like Roy gets to choose his own staff now.

Bridgeport coaching staff out too

Roy stays for at least next season, John MacLean/Tommy Albelin out.

Looks like Roy gets to choose his own staff now.
- Gabe Athaus

Wasn't a huge fan of Roy this past season, but I'm curious to see what Roy Unleashed looks like next season...he'll presumably get to bring in his own people, and Darche's statements about committing to speed seems to be more in line with Roy's style

Bridgeport coaching staff out too
- Gabe Athaus

I'm guessing not including management there is intentional and that Chris L is still involved?

Wasn't a huge fan of Roy this past season, but I'm curious to see what Roy Unleashed looks like next season...he'll presumably get to bring in his own people, and Darche's statements about committing to speed seems to be more in line with Roy's style
- UIF

Yeah I'm pretty neutral on Roy honestly. Haven't been enamored with him but he got saddled with a coaching staff he didn't want and a team that lacked a lot. I'm happy to give him another year or two to see how things shake out with his own staff and a new GM.

I'm guessing not including management there is intentional and that Chris L is still involved?
- UIF

Nobody asked and he didn't offer up anything regarding him. So...who knows

edit:

Andrew Gross
@AGrossNewsday
32s
Mathieu Darche has not decided yet on assistant GMs (Chris Lamoriello, Steve Pellegrini) or Bridgeport GM Chris Lamoriello.

Does mention he believes there are a "lot of good people" already in the Islanders' organization.

Roy stays for at least next season, John MacLean/Tommy Albelin out.

Looks like Roy gets to choose his own staff now.
- Gabe Athaus

This is good news.

Yeah I'm pretty neutral on Roy honestly. Haven't been enamored with him but he got saddled with a coaching staff he didn't want and a team that lacked a lot. I'm happy to give him another year or two to see how things shake out with his own staff and a new GM.
- Gabe Athaus

Patrick seemed really frustrated last year, and I understand it. He was undermined by Lou.

Andrew Gross
@AGrossNewsday
Isles GM Mathieu Darche emphasizes the importance of the AHL development. Confirms Isles will have a summer development camp. Under Lou, the prospect camp came in September right before main training camp.

This was the most important news of the day for me. Need to build a strong foundation at the developmental level to keep feeding players to the big club as-needed.

Nobody asked and he didn't offer up anything regarding him. So...who knows

edit:

Andrew Gross
@AGrossNewsday
32s
Mathieu Darche has not decided yet on assistant GMs (Chris Lamoriello, Steve Pellegrini) or Bridgeport GM Chris Lamoriello.

Does mention he believes there are a "lot of good people" already in the Islanders' organization.
- Gabe Athaus

Chris L still being involved would be a concern.

Roy stays for at least next season, John MacLean/Tommy Albelin out.

Looks like Roy gets to choose his own staff now.
- Gabe Athaus

This guy Darche is a beast. It’s pretty clear they are gonna overhaul everyone as time goes on. Collin’s kinda said it when he said ten years in they’re ready to go. Now they’re going for a championship team.

The French Canadian connection is big. They love their own. I’m sure Roy and he talked about who they will bring in to run that fast style of hockey.

They wanted him to say Chris Lam would be replaced, which he clearly will be. Even the ECHL team will be competitive. The overhaul takes time and I almost can’t believe it’s happening.

I think he called all players to get a feel for who stays and who goes. He flat out said they’re gonna make decisions for what’s best for the organization and not the player!

This guy Darche is a beast. It’s pretty clear they are gonna overhaul everyone as time goes on. Collin’s kinda said it when he said ten years in they’re ready to go. Now they’re going for a championship team.

The French Canadian connection is big. They love their own. I’m sure Roy and he talked about who they will bring in to run that fast style of hockey.

They wanted him to say Chris Lam would be replaced, which he clearly will be. Even the ECHL team will be competitive. The overhaul takes time and I almost can’t believe it’s happening.

I think he called all players to get a feel for who stays and who goes. He flat out said they’re gonna make decisions for what’s best for the organization and not the player!
- kindlyrick

Yeah I thought he did a very good job and said a lot of great stuff. No complaints so far.

I also suspect Chris Lamoriello will be out, I just don't think he needed/wanted to put Lou's kid on blast with so many eyes on him at his introductory press conference. Wouldn't be surprised to see that news get quietly released on a Friday at 5pm at some point soon.

I have a good feeling about him and I'm excited to see where this goes. Ownership gets full marks for their role in this process so far. Very optimistic about the direction the team is headed.

Yeah I thought he did a very good job and said a lot of great stuff. No complaints so far.

I also suspect Chris Lamoriello will be out, I just don't think he needed/wanted to put Lou's kid on blast with so many eyes on him at his introductory press conference. Wouldn't be surprised to see that news get quietly released on a Friday at 5pm at some point soon.

I have a good feeling about him and I'm excited to see where this goes. Ownership gets full marks for their role in this process so far. Very optimistic about the direction the team is headed.
- Gabe Athaus

Yeah Collin’s looked like a no nonsense guy, and he’s just a minority owner. When he hit Darche on the arm and said “no pressure”, that was a pivotal moment for me.

Chris L still being involved would be a concern.
- ses111

Based on the quick replacements of the assistants and entire bport coaching staff, I have to assume the internal jobs, like AGM and Bport GM will be Darches picks. I just don’t get the vibe that he’s keeping anyone, it’s all going to be his people. It’s a process, and I think you’ll see everyone replaced over time.

Yeah I thought he did a very good job and said a lot of great stuff. No complaints so far.

I also suspect Chris Lamoriello will be out, I just don't think he needed/wanted to put Lou's kid on blast with so many eyes on him at his introductory press conference. Wouldn't be surprised to see that news get quietly released on a Friday at 5pm at some point soon.

I have a good feeling about him and I'm excited to see where this goes. Ownership gets full marks for their role in this process so far. Very optimistic about the direction the team is headed.
- Gabe Athaus

There is a good feeling about Darche right now. Communication is the key and hopefully it will not be like the C.I.A like with past GM's.

Based on the quick replacements of the assistants and entire bport coaching staff, I have to assume the internal jobs, like AGM and Bport GM will be Darches picks. I just don’t get the vibe that he’s keeping anyone, it’s all going to be his people. It’s a process, and I think you’ll see everyone replaced over time.
- kindlyrick

Hopefully this is the case. You want to sink or swim with your people.