5 pressing questions for new NY Islanders GM Mathieu Darche fans need answers to

3. What's the status of Kyle Palmieri’s contract extension?

Palmieri quietly had a strong season and was a key voice in the locker room. Lamoriello elected to hold onto Palmieri at the trade deadline rather than trade him for a draft pick, hoping that the team, even without Brock Nelson, had a chance to sneak into the playoffs. Reports indicated that a "handshake deal" on an extension was all but done, but with a new GM, does that change? Darche must decide whether Palmieri is part of the next phase of the Islanders’ core or an expendable veteran as he aims to reshape the roster moving forward.

4. How far away is this team from legitimate Stanley Cup contention?

Darche arrives with a championship pedigree from Tampa Bay, so he knows what a Cup team looks like. Do the Islanders have the core to compete - or are they further behind than fans want to admit? Friday's press release stated that the team intends to be "highly competitive" next season, but that's what team press releases say. The Islanders still have a young core of players to build around, which has always made a retool over a rebuild the preferred option. Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, Noah Dobson, Ilya Sorokin, and an improving prospect pool give them a chance.

If Calum Ritchie can be an instant contributor, Isaiah George can take the next step in his development, and Darche can make some shrewd moves, perhaps the Isles don't have to take a step back to take a step forward. Having Cole Esierman and the No. 1 overall pick helps, too. This question will drive every decision he makes, from trades to draft strategy to veteran contracts. We need to hear his honest assessment: Are we in “go for it” mode, or is it time for a reset?