Mathieu Darche explains why the NY Islanders are relying on Bridgeport depth on D

Mathieu Darche isn’t panicking — and that may be the most important part of the New York Islanders’ response to Alexander Romanov’s absence. Rather than forcing a trade or rushing into an external fix, the Islanders’ general manager is leaning into something he believes in deeply: development, patience, and the Bridgeport pipeline.

“You don’t want to make a knee-jerk reaction,” Darche said via the New York Post when asked about replacing Romanov. “The reason you have a minor league system, and I strongly believe in the minor league system — maybe because I played too many games in that league — I believe in those guys getting opportunities.”

That belief has translated directly into action. Instead of chasing short-term solutions, the Islanders have cycled through internal options, giving multiple defensemen a look and letting performance — not reputation — dictate opportunity. Darche is in constant communication with Bridgeport head coach Rocky Thompson, asking a simple but telling question: who deserves the next shot?

“When I talk to [coach] Rocky [Thompson] in Bridgeport, ‘Alright, who plays well? Who deserves to be called up?’ We give them the opportunity,” Darche said.

That approach explains the movement fans have seen on the back end. Call-ups and returns haven’t been indictments. They’ve been auditions. “Some of the guys we sent back, it’s not necessarily because they were playing poorly,” Darche explained. “It’s just, hey let’s try somebody else.”

Right now, that “somebody else” is Cole McWard, and Darche has liked what he’s seen. “A few guys deserved an opportunity and they gave us good minutes when they were here,” he said. “Right now, it’s Cole McWard and he’s played well. We’ll see where it goes from here.”

Travis Mitchell received the opportunity before McWard, scored his first NHL goal, and also had some moments where it looked like he could stick. The player the organization and fans are waiting on is Isaiah George, the brisk skating blueliner who played 33 NHL games last season. A pair of injuries this season have delayed his chance back in the NHL, but he's expected to back in the AHL lineup soon and if he plays well, his opportunity shouldn't be far behind either.

The bigger picture is clear. Darche is using Romanov’s absence not as a crisis, but as a proving ground. It’s a chance to stress-test the organization’s depth, reward performance, and gather real NHL data before making any major decisions.

For an Islanders team trying to balance competitiveness with sustainability, that philosophy matters. Bridgeport isn’t just a holding pen — it’s an investment. And under Darche, they intend to use it until the right external opportunity is there to pursue.