New Islanders GM Mathieu Darche bringing back coach Patrick Roy

New Islanders general manager/executive vice president Mathieu Darche has a long to-do list as he settles into his first opportunity to run an NHL team. But, in less than a week on the job, he decided he was comfortable working with coach and fellow French-Canadian Patrick Roy.

“Patrick will be our coach next season,” the former Lightning assistant GM/director of hockey operations said on Thursday at UBS Arena in response to the first question asked at his introductory news conference.

However, Darche also announced that assistant coaches John MacLean and Tommy Albelin — both played for former Islanders president/GM Lou Lamoriello when he ran the Devils — have been let go. The same is true of AHL Bridgeport coach Rick Kowalsky and his staff.

“I’m still trying to meet everyone,” said Darche, who was announced as Lamoriello’s successor last Friday. “My focus since I got named was to sit down with Patrick. We might both be French-Canadian, but the first time I ever got Patrick’s number was last Friday. Obviously, I knew who he was. I think he knew who I was.”

The Islanders went 35-35-12 in Roy’s first full season, missing the playoffs for the second time in four seasons. That prompted ownership to announce on April 22 that it would not renew Lamoriello’s contract after seven seasons and five playoff berths, including losses to the Lightning in 2020 and 2021 in the NHL semifinals.

“Patrick’s a winner,” Darche said. “He had success coaching when he came here the first year. I went to meet with him last weekend just to get to know him more. I’m extremely comfortable and excited to be working with him. I know he’s passionate and works hard. It was my decision to make changes in the coaching staff. Now, Patrick and I will work together to fill the assistant coach positions.”

“It’s great,” captain Anders Lee said of Roy being retained. “For him to get together with Patrick and hash it out, I think it’s great he was able to make a decision on that and move forward with Patty. Patty has got a good relationship with us and our ability to understand what he wants from us and how he wants us to play.”

Darche still must decide whom to hire as Bridgeport coach and whether to retain the holdovers from Lamoriello’s management team, including assistant GMs Chris Lamoriello — also the Bridgeport GM — and Steve Pelligrini.

It will be Darche’s decision whether to retain Lamoriello as a consultant after his contract expires on June 30.

But Darche said his priority is the NHL Draft on June 27-28 in Los Angeles, with the Islanders holding the No. 1 pick after winning the Draft Lottery despite having only a 3.5% chance of doing so. Darche said he expects to hold on to the top selection.

“You have to do your due diligence; anybody who calls, you have to listen,” Darche said. “But someone would really have to knock my socks off to trade that pick because we’re going to get a special player.”

Darche emphasized the need for strong prospect development through the AHL and ECHL, saying he wants to build an operation that is “vertically integrated” and adding that was one of the Lightning’s strengths during his six seasons with that organization. He wants the Islanders to play a fast-paced game but defend well.

Operating partner John Collins, who conducted the search for Lamoriello’s successor, described Darche as a “team builder” and said his communication skills and willingness to work collaboratively and transparently while supporting the Islanders’ community initiatives stood out during the interview process.

“It’s a new day,” co-owner Jon Ledecky told Newsday.

Notes & quotes: Darche said top-line center Bo Horvat suffered an ankle injury playing for Team Canada in the IIHF World Championship and is out four to six weeks. But Darche added that Horvat already has begun his rehab and there is “no concern” about Horvat’s availability for training camp in September . . . Darche is moving the Islanders’ prospect development camp to immediately after the draft. Under Lamoriello, the development camp was conducted in September immediately before the main training camp . . . The beards will be back for the Islanders. Darche will not have a rule against facial hair, as Lamoriello did in the regular season.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.