It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).You never get a second chance to make a first impression.Mathieu Darche made a good one on fans Thursday morning as John Collins formally introduced him as the team’s new GM and Executive VP in a rare pomp and circumstance event for the organization.Chris and Joe discuss Darche's definitive answers in his media debut, including the biggest one: Patrick Roy will return, but this time, he will be able to choose his own staff. There are also big changes coming to Bridgeport, with a renewed emphasis on a winning environment for the team’s AHL affiliate.We discuss Chris Lamoriello’s still undecided future, Darche’s view on having the 1st pick in the draft, and the extent of the changes we should see this summer. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe
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34:42
Quick Fix: A New Era Begins
It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).Our national (Long Island) wait is over. On Friday afternoon, the Islanders named Mathieu Darche their General Manager and Executive Vice President after a one-month search for Lou Lamoriello’s replacement. “Mathieu is the perfect choice to lead our hockey operations,” Operating Partner John Collins said. “He will be given every resource available to put the Islanders first-in-class on the ice, with our business initiatives, and in the community.”The Islanders notably stated, “will manage all aspects of the team’s hockey operations” after being granted permission to speak to Brendan Shanahan earlier this week. Newsday beat reporter Andrew Gross later posted that the Islanders will not hire anyone above Darche.The former Tampa Bay assistant GM brings an eclectic background in hockey and business that fits the moment for the Islanders and the ownership group.It’s a new era on Long Island. We’ll see where and how far this one takes us. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe
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29:28
Quick Fix: The Plot Thickens
It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).The Islanders’ search for Lou Lamoriello’s replacement(s) has reached the one-month mark and continues to evolve. On Thursday, the team got permission from the Maple Leafs to speak to team president Brendan Shanahan. The Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) is holding a board meeting on Thursday, and Shanahan’s future is expected to be on the agenda.Meanwhile, Marc Bergevin and Mathieu Darche reportedly had their second interviews, but they are holding a pattern as John Collins and the rest of the Isles’ brass gauge Shanahan’s interest in coming to Long Island.The search has been anything but boring, and it continues to unfold. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe
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26:11
Quick Fix: Prospect Guru Corey Pronman
It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix), joined by senior prospects writer for The Athletic, Corey Pronman (@coreypronman), to break down the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft Class and what the Islanders should do with the No. 1 overall pick.Corey explains why James Hagens dropped from being his top prospect last year after his freshman year at Boston College. Is there any argument for the Islanders to take him with the first pick? Plus, how did Mathew Schaefer rise to the consensus top overall pick after only 17 OHL games this season, and did Michael Misa’s massive goal-scoring season make him the top forward in the class?We also spend time on Cole Eiserman, Cal Ritchie, and other Islanders prospects that have the Islanders prospect rankings rising for the first time in years. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe
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28:47
Quick Fix: Job Search
It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).Before Lou Lamoriello was spotted in a Buffalo airport, we hopped on to discuss the latest in the Islanders GM search, which *currently* appears focused on three candidates: Mathieu Darche, Jarmo Kekalainen, and Marc Bergevin.Bergevin and Kekalainen come with experience, but that experience comes with blemishes, the byproduct of working in a profession where you are hired to be fired. Meanwhile, Darche has the sparkling pedigree and clean slate that has him atop most fans’ lists to coincide with a new era of Islanders hockey.We also touch on the latest Lamoriello news. If he becomes an advisor to owner Scott Malkin, that’s the owner’s prerogative, but the sooner there is certainty around what that role is and what is not, the better. And if Lou ends up in Buffalo, or somewhere else in a similar role, that may be best for all involved. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe
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