New York Islanders [http://thn.com/isles] general manager Mathieu Darche has yet to make a major move since being hired on May 23. According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun [https://x.com/PierreVLeBrun], two players who will not be involved in any major move, if one comes, are Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat: "Darche has communicated with both star players that they're staying put. That's going to be disappointing for teams who were hoping to make offers on either. I think Montreal would have probably been one of those teams. But keeping both Barzal and Horvat is part of Darche’s decision to not undergo a massive, long-term rebuild. He sees a team that can compete for a playoff spot next year.” Barzal, who is coming off an injury-riddled season that limited to 30 games (six goals, 14 assists), is entering the third season of an eight-year deal $9.15 million annually. Horvat, who recorded 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 81 games, is entering the third season of an eight-year deal worth $8.5 million annually. The expectation is that Darche will be quiet this summer as he evaluates his roster. What To Expect From Mathieu Darche’s Islanders Retool Plan [https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fbde6a6-2ffe-4e94-9ce3-1f84e8f586da_1508x1055.jpeg] What To Expect From Mathieu Darche’s Islanders Retool Plan This seems like a two-year process for the Islanders new general manager. [https://www.theelmonters.com/p/mathieu-darche-new-york-islanders-dobson-romanov-nhl-draft-free-agency?utm_source=publication-search] At his introductory press conference, Darche shared that he believed the team, as constructed, could make the playoffs. If the Islanders can make the playoffs while also retooling, that seems to be the likely route, as opposed to selling off pieces and going for a top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Photo credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
