Mathieu Darches lofty goals usher in a whole new Islanders era

The event itself was evidence of the change at hand with the Islanders, and you didn’t need to look far at Mathieu Darche’s introductory press conference as general manager on Thursday to find more of it. There were season-ticket holders in attendance and a repeated focus on connecting with the fan base. There was some transparency, with Darche giving specifics on Bo Horvat’s ankle injury, his plan to keep the No.1 pick, Patrick Roy staying in charge as head coach and changes elsewhere in the organization. There was, again and again, emphasis on player development and the importance of fixing up an AHL team in Bridgeport whose struggles were hand-waved by Lou Lamoriello last season. There was a GM talking about collaboration and communication, being a part of the organization’s community efforts and building a team around pace. “By saying fast-paced doesn’t mean we’re playing [only] offense, because you can’t win if you don’t defend,” Darche said.

“Playing defense and defending are two different things.I want to attack.” Music to Patrick Roy’s ears. “Even when the Lightning won the two Cups, everybody thinks it was all offense,” Darche went on.

“No — the team defended better than everybody else.That’s why the team won.

And that’s the same thing. “Doesn’t mean that you weren’t scoring goals.That’s what I want.

Over time, we’re gonna build a team towards that.You need everything.

That’s the recipe: you need everything, build all aspects of it.Fast, high-paced, intensity, compete.

That’s how you win in the NHL.” Once you stripped all the trappings and niceties from the afternoon, got past all the allusions to shoring up the Islanders’ brand and all the change that will come off the ice, that may have been the starkest contrast offered from the Lamoriello Era Isles who — even in their heyday — were a step slow and very much defensive in nature. Turning it into reality is a different thing, and D...