Mathieu Darche expanding NY Islanders analytics and modernizing hockey operations

Mathieu Darche has wasted no time putting his imprint on the New York Islanders, and one of the most important changes he’s implementing is the expansion of the team’s analytics department.

Under Lou Lamoriello’s six-year tenure as general manager, the Islanders operated with one of the smallest hockey operations infrastructures in the league. While Lamoriello leaned heavily on traditional scouting and gut instinct, the organization lagged behind its peers in the use of advanced analytics and data-driven decision-making.

Darche, who spent six years as Julien BriseBois’ right-hand man in Tampa Bay, arrived with a different mindset. In Tampa, analytics were a fully integrated part of player evaluation, game preparation, and roster construction. Carrying that experience with him, Darche has prioritized bolstering the Islanders’ analytics staff to bring the team in line with modern NHL standards.

In a recent interview with Pierre LeBrun in The Athletic, the columnist confirmed that the Islanders were expanding their analytics department and front office. While this is a sharp deviation from Lamoriello, Darche was complimentary of how the Hall of Fame executive supported him after he was handed the keys to the organization. “Lou has been very nice to me since I’ve been there,” Darche said. “We had all those RFA arb cases. He had been talking with the agents before I got there, so I reached out to Lou to get that background.”

Expect the Islanders to actively recruit staff with backgrounds in statistical modeling, player tracking, and video integration to support both the NHL roster and the Bridgeport AHL affiliate. Building this infrastructure will allow the club to more effectively evaluate trades, free-agent signings, and internal development paths for top prospects like Matthew Schaefer, Victor Eklund, and Calum Ritchie.

For Islanders fans, the move signals a refreshing shift. After years of operating as a tight-lipped, old-school outfit, the franchise is embracing the tools that today’s most successful organizations use to stay ahead. For Darche, it’s about building not just a competitive team on the ice, but a modern hockey operations department capable of sustaining long-term success.