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The New York Islanders and Mathieu Darche: Back to the Future

ByGlenn Brewer|
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Mar 10, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) gets in position for a faceoff in the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Mar 10, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Red Wings right wing Alex DeBrincat (93) gets in position for a faceoff in the second period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The slow period of the NHL offseason is quickly approaching, and the New York Islanders do not appear to be big players with the remaining unrestricted free agents. General manager Mathieu Darche recently spoke about having around $40 million in salary cap space next summer after some contracts expire and the salary cap is expected to rise. As we hop in the DeLorean and head to the summer of 2027, who is Darche hunting?

Ondrej Palat, Kyle Palmieri, Casey Cizikas, Kyle McLean, Semyon Varlamov, and Vitek Vanecek are all on expiring contracts, with Anthony Duclair and Brayden Schenn becoming unrestricted free agents the following season. Clearly, Darche is targeting some players next summer, and a familiar face is available from his Tampa Bay days: Nikita Kucherov.

Kucherov is entering his 13th season in the NHL, all with Tampa Bay. The 1,000-game milestone is approaching quickly, and he recently scored his 400th career goal. The familiarity between Darche and Kucherov will make the Islanders a threat to sign him, but I believe Darche will target another sniper.

Lou Lamoriello was rumored to be interested in bringing Alex DeBrincat to the island, but swung and missed when DeBrincat went to his home state, the Detroit Red Wings. Since arriving home, the 28-year-old has scored 107 goals, including 41 this past season in another non-playoff campaign.

The former Chicago Blackhawks draft choice joined another former Blackhawks forward and linemate, Patrick Kane. It appears that Kane will be leaving Detroit this summer, and the captain, Dylan Larkin, has requested a trade out of Detroit.

DeBrincat will not be 30-years-old when he becomes an unrestricted free agent, and Darche will have to compete with many suitors. The Islanders have not had a 40-goal scorer since recently departed, Anders Lee in the 2017-18 season.

The thought of having DeBrincat play on a line with Matthew Barzal would bring a smile to every Islanders fan. Additionally, the power play would immediately get their top scorer, as DeBrincat had 15 goals last year on the man advantage. The leading scorer on the power play last season was the Calder Trophy winner, Matthew Schaefer.

Signing DeBrincat would make up for this quiet summer!

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