Islanders GM Mathieu Darche's plans: Keep No. 1 pick and sign his RFAs

Mathieu Darche, remaining adamant he will keep the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft, knows he’ll be selecting a “special player” to join the Islanders on Friday night.

The recently hired general manager and executive vice president also is still hoping restricted free agent defenseman Noah Dobson, the subject of much trade speculation of late, remains with the team.

“I’m still trying to sign all of our restricted free agents,” Darche said on a predraft teleconference on Tuesday, including defenseman Alexander Romanov and forwards Simon Holmstrom and Maxim Tsyplakov and, possibly, forward Marc Gatcomb and defenseman Scott Perunovich.

“I’ve been talking with the agents,” Darche said. “It’s just part of the process. Sometimes it takes time, sometimes it happens quick. With all four of the RFAs, it’s been a very cordial negotiation. We’re just going through the process. We have our ideas of where the contracts will be and we’re working through it.”

All the RFAs have arbitration rights and either Dobson or Romanov could return a significant haul in any trade, potentially one to get the Islanders another first-round pick high in the draft.

Dobson, 25, is coming off a three-year, $12 million deal and could well double his $4 million annual average value. Per PuckPedia.com, the Islanders have $20.9 million in salary-cap space with $74.6 million committed to 17 players.

The salary-cap ceiling is increasing by $7.5 million to $95.5 million for this coming season.

“I wouldn’t say anxiety,” Dobson said during the Islanders’ breakup day on April 19 when asked whether he was feeling anxious about the upcoming contract negotiations. “I feel like that stuff will all take care of itself at some point.”

While insisting, “I’m not trading the '1,' ” Darche, who’s expected to select 17-year-old defenseman Matthew Schaefer, readily acknowledged how active his cell phone has been the past few weeks. He did not discount the possibility of swinging a trade to get a second pick in the top 10.

“I’m looking at everything,” Darche said. “You want to move into the top 10, what does it cost you? If I feel the opportunity warrants that trade, I’ll try it.”

Asked directly if he knew whom he was drafting at No. 1, Darche said, “Well, I can’t tell you all my secrets. We have an idea at this point. But we’re going to keep doing our due diligence all the way through Friday.”

The draft concludes with rounds two through seven on Saturday, then the Islanders open their summer prospect development camp on Monday. The free-agent market opens next Tuesday.

“You’ve got to stay disciplined, that’s the biggest thing,” Darche said of shopping in free agency. “Like every time there’s a big jump [in the salary cap], you can get antsy and say, ‘Well, even if I don’t think that’s what I want to pay for a player, I have the cap space so I’ll spend it.’ Later on in your process, it’s, ‘Oh, maybe I paid too much.’

“So you have to be smart and diligent in the signings. But, of course, it will be exciting. Players are excited the cap is going up. Trust me, agents are excited right now.”

Darche has made several hires in the lead-up to the draft and free agency. On Monday, he named Rocky Thompson to coach the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.

Veteran NHL coaches Bob Boughner and Ray Bennett were hired as assistants to coach Patrick Roy. Darche confirmed on Tuesday that Bennett will run the power play and Boughner will be in charge of the penalty kill. Ryan Bowness was brought on as an assistant GM/director of player personnel.

Darche said he wanted Roy to be “comfortable” with his assistants after not retaining John MacLean and Tommy Albelin,  who both had close ties to former president and GM Lou Lamoriello.

“I sat down with Patrick, we came up with names together,” Darche said. “Patrick zeroed in on Bob and Ray and then, like anything, I’ll do my due diligence.”

Darche also said he expects to name Bridgeport assistant coaches “hopefully in the next few days.”

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.