Mathieu Darche will be under pressure to sign 2 NY Islanders prospects or risk losing them to free agency

The NHL trade deadline has passed, but that doesn’t mean the work is done for NHL GMs. With NCAA Conference Tournaments currently taking place, teams will look to get their prospects currently playing college hockey signed, while also recruiting college free agents to their organization. 

NY Islanders prospects Danny Nelson and Quinn Finley both saw their teams eliminated from the respective conference tournaments last night. Nelson’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish fell to No. 1 Michigan, while Wisconsin and Finley were upset by Ohio State.

Darche will lool to sign Nelson and Finley to ELCs

Nelson was selected 49th overall in 2023, while Finley was taken 78th overall in 2022. For prospects who play in the NCAA, teams have until August 15, after the player's graduation, to sign them to an ELC before they become a free agent. With Nelson and Finley completing their junior season, this is a crucial time for Mathieu Darche to ink both players or risk the chance of losing them next summer for nothing.

Nelson, a 6'3" center, played 36 games this season, recording 13 goals and 16 assists, improving his point totals each season while at Notre Dame. He played for the 2024 and 2025 USA teams at the WJC, capturing gold medals both years. He is projected as a middle-six center, capable of playing the wing as well.

Finley is a 5'11" winger, known for his goal scoring while at Wisconsin. He's totaled 15 goals and 13 assists this season, 12 points short of last season's totals. While Nelson's season is finished, Finley and the Badgers could still earn an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament and could see their season continue.

As second and third-round picks, Darche will want to have both players under their ELC, or at least an ATO, meaning they could play the remainder of the season with the Bridgeport Islanders.