Mathieu Darche

Mathieu Darche
Darche with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2007
Born	(1976-11-26) November 26, 1976 (age 48) Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Columbus Blue Jackets Nashville Predators San Jose Sharks Tampa Bay Lightning Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2000–2012

Mathieu Darche (born November 26, 1976) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player who is the general manager for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for several American Hockey League (AHL) and NHL clubs from 2000 to 2012. Mathieu is the younger brother of football player J. P. Darche.

Hockey career

Amateur

Darche played hockey at Choate Rosemary Hall and graduated in 1996. He has a commerce degree in marketing and international business from McGill University. ^[1] While attending university, Darche played four seasons of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) hockey, where in his last year, he was named the CIS Outstanding student-athlete and was awarded the Dr. Randy Gregg Award. ^[2]

Professional

After McGill, Darche became the first-ever signing by the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Darche spent a full season with the Hershey Bears of the AHL.

He played for the Füchse Duisburg of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in 2005–06 and also split four seasons between the NHL and AHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, and their affiliates. In 2006–07, he played a few games with the San Jose Sharks of the NHL but spent most of the season playing for the team's AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks. In 2007–08, Darche played with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After starting the 2009–10 season playing for its AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs he was recalled and played his first game as a Canadien on January 20, 2010, versus the St. Louis Blues and scored his first goal for the team on January 22 versus the New Jersey Devils, which was a game-winning goal. ^[3] After attending the New Jersey Devils training camp in January 2013, he was asked to stay with the team but ultimately chose to retire. ^[4]

Managerial

Darche served as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing in Canada for Delmar International Inc. ^[5] before becoming the Director of Hockey Operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning on May 6, 2019. He would win two Stanley Cups in the role in 2020 and 2021. ^[6]

Darche was hired as the general manager of the New York Islanders on May 23, 2025. ^[7]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996–97	McGill University	CIAU		15	0	1	1	21		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	McGill University	CIAU		26	21	13	34	20		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	McGill University	CIAU		23	12	21	33	38		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	McGill University	CIAU		26	27	35	62	22		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		66	16	24	40	21		5	0	1	1	4
2000–01	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		9	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		14	1	1	2	6		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		63	22	23	45	26		10	2	5	7	2
2002–03	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		76	32	32	64	38		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		76	28	31	59	41		22	6	8	14	8
2003–04	Nashville Predators	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Hershey Bears	AHL		79	29	25	54	49		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Füchse Duisburg	DEL		52	12	13	25	88		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Worcester Sharks	AHL		76	35	45	80	72		5	2	2	4	2
2006–07	San Jose Sharks	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		73	7	15	22	20		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		4	3	7	10	2		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Portland Pirates	AHL		80	31	35	66	37		5	0	0	0	4
2009–10	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		32	16	9	25	4		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		29	5	5	10	4		11	0	1	1	2
2010–11	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		59	12	14	26	10		7	1	1	2	0
2011–12	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		61	5	7	12	18		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				552	212	231	443	290		47	10	16	26	20
NHL totals				250	30	42	72	58		18	1	2	3	2

References

1. "Habs' Darche to drop puck at game on friday". Boxscorenews.com. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
2. "Hockey Award winners". Canadian Interuniversity Sports. June 5, 2007. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
3. "Mathieu Darche Biography". Montreal Canadiens. October 1, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
4. "Canadiens' Darche makes retirement official". The Sports Network. February 19, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
5. "Stu Cowan: Former Canadien Mathieu Darche loving his new job in Tampa". Montreal Gazette. March 8, 2020.
6. "Bolts announce three promotions, new hire to hockey operations department". Tampa Bay Lightning. May 6, 2019.
7. "Darche Named General Manager and Executive Vice President". NHL.com. May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Sporting positions
Preceded by Lou Lamoriello	General manager of the New York Islanders 2025–present	Incumbent