Mathieu Darche won't hesitate to use buyouts to strengthen the NY Islanders' roster

After the Carolina Hurricanes captured the 2026 Stanley Cup, the buyout period around the NHL began, closing on June 30. With the NY Islanders locked into a few contracts they may want to get out of, there are two days remaining to spread the money owed over a longer length of time.

Though no moves have been made as of yet, Mathieu Darche is willing to exercise his right to buy out a player if he believes it will strengthen his team.

Darche is willing to use a buy out

"Everything is on the table at all times. It depends," Darche said in his post-draft interview. "You're not doing a buyout just to do a buyout. But if the opportunity comes and you need to do a buyout, you'll do it. Am I sitting here today telling you I'm buying someone out in the next two days? I can't tell you that. I can't tell you I will. But if something arises... It's part of the CBA, and every team has an opportunity to do it... I'm not there yet, but we'll see what the next few days bring."

The candidate most likely to be bought out is Ondrej Palat. Acquired just before the trade deadline, the Islanders gave up Max Tsyplakov to take on Palat's contract that has one year remaining at $6M AAV, along with a third-round pick in 2026 and a sixth-round pick in 2027.

To buy out the final year of Palat's contract, it would cost $2.7M against this year's cap, saving $3.3M and $1.65M in 2027-28.

Another potential candidate is Pierre Engvall, who has four years remaining on his contract with a $3M AAV. With Engvall's low cap hit, if sent to the minors, only $1.775M would count against the Islanders' cap for this season. If Darche were to buy him out, $1M would count against the cap for the next eight seasons.

With two days remaining before the buyout window closes, we'll see if Darche is willing to move on from any players before their contracts expire.

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