Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky praises new GM Mathieu Darche, says future is now for franchise
The Islanders introduce Mathieu Darche as their new general manager at UBS Arena on May 29. Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp
LOS ANGELES — Co-owner Jon Ledecky, giving praise to the work new general manager Mathieu Darche has done in his one month on the job, believes “the future is now,” for the Islanders. He said it was at least a new motto for the organization.
But it’s certainly apropos with the Islanders holding the first overall pick in the NHL Draft, starting Friday night at The Peacock Theater.
“We’re extremely excited about putting together a team that gets younger and faster and exciting,” Ledecky said on Wednesday, speaking to Newsday and NHL.com as he exited a Board of Governors’ meeting at the JW Marriott L.A. Live.
“I think the fan base wants to see that and this is the first step. I think Mathieu has done a fabulous job in his first weeks here and I couldn’t be happier to see the moves that he’s making and the way he’s methodically going about rebuilding the organization.”
Ledecky made it clear he and majority owner Scott Malkin are giving Darche, hired on May 23 as a first-time NHL GM, the same freedom to do his job as they gave former president/GM Lou Lamoriello.
In other words, ownership has not been told definitively who Darche plans to take with the first pick. The league-wide expectation is that defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the junior Ontario Hockey League will become an Islander.
“I think the tradition of the Islanders’ ownership for the last decade has been to let the general manager do his job,” Ledecky said. “I think we continue to do that. The information flow is definitely there, which is terrific. But decisions have to be made by the person you empower to make them. We’re confident in his decision-making ability. We’re confident in his understanding of hockey.”
Ledecky was also asked about the allure of drafting highly-rated prospect James Hagens of Hauppauge, perhaps with the Islanders trading for another high first-round pick.
“That’s beyond ownership’s purview, it’s a hockey operations decision,” Ledecky said. “Any time you have a local player — and we’ve had a lot of great players from Long Island over the years — it’s exciting for the hometown to see a person be talked about as a first-round draft pick.”
Ledecky also praised Darche’s decision to hire Matt Martin as a special assistant to the GM after the longtime fan favorite announced his retirement on Tuesday.
“A fantastic move on so many levels,” Ledecky said. “During his playing career, Matt expressed an interest in continuing in the hockey world post-retirement.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke to a larger media contingent about 40 feet away from Ledecky following the Board of Governors’ meeting.
He continued to give an optimistic report on negotiations between the league and the NHL Players’ Association toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The current CBA expires on Sept. 15, 2026.
“The whole process has been trending positive,” Bettman said. “The relationship is in a great place. [NHLPA executive director] Marty [Walsh] and I have a terrific relationship. It’s constructive. Professional.”