Mathieu Darches Tampa Bay homecoming a reminder of what hes striving for with Islanders

TAMPA — Mathieu Darche was clear in pointing out that his return to Tampa was not the same as a player or coach facing a former team.Darche couldn’t influence Saturday’s game between the Islanders and Lightning after the puck dropped, and he can walk around town without being recognized. Still, there was an element Saturday of the prodigal son returning.

Darche was an assistant general manager to Julien BriseBois for six seasons, helping the Lightning as they won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, before getting a chance to sit in the big chair this summer with the Islanders. “I had six great years here,” Darche said.“The staff, the coaches, the management — it’s a Saturday morning, so not many people are here, but I got to see them in New York last week.

It’s fun. “We left New York, it was 22 degrees.We get here, it was 80, so you remember those.

It’s fun to be here.But at the end of the day, it’s not about me being back.

It’s the players playing the games.” The Islanders entered Saturday following wins over Tampa Bay and Colorado, which allowed them to end a 3-3-1 homestand on a positive note.Darche referred to their schedule over the next week, which includes this trip to Florida and home games against Vegas, Anaheim and the Lightning again, as “a gauntlet.” Beating the Lightning 2-1 last Tuesday on Long Island, though, gave Darche bragging rights over BriseBois, though they were on the line again Saturday.  Sign up for Inside the Islanders by Ethan Sears, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.

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Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! “I think it means something, for sure,” Darche’s brother, J.P., who’s with the Islanders for the team’s dads and mentors trip this weekend, said.“He’s got so much appreciation for the people here, Julien BriseBois and all these [guys].

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