TAMPA — It’s been several years since Mathieu Darche first emerged as a candidate to become an NHL general manager. As the Lightning’s assistant GM and director of hockey operations, he has been Julien BriseBois’ right-hand man in leading the team’s hockey operations department.

The New York Islanders hired Mathieu Darche as their general manager Friday, giving the two-time Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning assistant his long-awaited first chance to run an NHL team. Darche was named executive vice president and GM and put in charge of the organization's hockey operations department.

The Islanders hired Mathieu Darche as their general manager Friday, giving the two-time Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning assistant his long-awaited first chance to run an NHL team. Darche was named executive vice president and GM and put in charge of the organization's hockey operations department.