If Mathieu Darche is planning to take a wrecking ball to the Islanders roster this summer time, then the brand new common supervisor is doing an awesome job of hiding it.
Greatest-laid plans can at all times change, however a number of weeks into Darche’s tenure, it appears to be like extra like he’ll be working this offseason with a scalpel.
Whereas phrases corresponding to “We believe in the group” haven’t been damaged out, it wouldn’t be a shock at this level if the roster in coaching camp appears to be like loads just like the 2024-25 Islanders with a No. 1 choose and prospect Calum Ritchie as the 2 most essential additions.
Whereas a lot has been made in regards to the Islanders’ approximate $22.3 million in cap house this summer time, utilizing that cash to reshape the roster requires an lively dedication from the entrance workplace.
Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov, Max Tsyplakov and Simon Holmstrom, restricted free brokers all, will take up $18 million or so of that pie, even when all 4 find yourself on team-friendly offers.
From there, the Islanders would have $4.3 million or so to make some provides — which is lower than the $7.5 million whole by which the wage cap is rising this offseason for each crew, and received’t equate to a lot.
At most, the Islanders could be adjustments to the underside of the depth chart, or maybe a signing within the center six alongside the strains of Anthony Duclair final summer time.
The group will look youthful if Ritchie, the No. 1 choose and Isaiah George all begin the 12 months with the Islanders, however its ethos received’t change a lot.
Competition, then, could be contingent on a far more healthy season than the Islanders simply had, a greater teaching efficiency from Patrick Roy, a few rookies stepping in as impression gamers immediately and extra cohesion throughout the board.
If Darche needed to tear the entire thing down, the apparent method to attempt could be shifting a few of these restricted free brokers — particularly Dobson — for property, buying round some vets presently below contract after which constructing a future round Ritchie, the No. 1 choose, Cole Eiserman and commerce returns.
Even a center floor that saved the Islanders aggressive whereas considerably altering the combination immediately would seemingly contain shifting Dobson, and Darche shot that chance down in an interview with The Put up on the scouting mix.
He went additional in an interview with Newsday, closely implying he needed to maintain all 4 of the aforementioned restricted free brokers and saying he didn’t anticipate Pierre Engvall or Scott Mayfield to be purchased out.
So until there’s a hockey commerce Darche could make — or, extra pertinent, one which he desires to make — the window for sweeping roster reconstruction appears to be like nearly closed off, no less than so far as the summer time is worried.
Long term, Ritchie and the highest choose, whoever it’s, nonetheless signify potential cornerstone items who might begin subsequent season on the roster.
Eiserman is extra more likely to be at BU for his sophomore season, but when he made his Islanders debut late subsequent season, it wouldn’t be a shock.
If George can construct on his promising NHL debut and stick within the lineup, it’s one other piece of the puzzle.
That, basically, jibes with what Darche stated at his introductory information convention, when he spoke extra about main adjustments at AHL Bridgeport (which, everybody agrees, is in critical want of it) than with the NHL crew.
“I think this team last year, because of various factors, probably should’ve been a playoff team,” Darche stated. “Do we have work to do to improve it? Of course we do. … We have a plan to improve the team, but it’s gonna happen over time, also. But I don’t think this team is a team that can’t make the playoffs.”
Nothing he’s stated since has made that sound like lip service.
In different phrases, the tempo of change right here goes to be sluggish and regular.
