Bergevin, Darche, and the Potential Mistake of Hiring Them As Co-GMs

The New York Islanders continue to roll without anyone in charge of their Hockey Operations. The NHL Draft Combine starts on June 1, and whoever will be in charge has not been formally hired or placed in charge.

We’ve already reported that all signs point to Marc Bergevin joining the Islanders. According to some reports, he has only been interviewed for the GM chair. However, it’s well-known in league circles that the Islanders also have a strong interest in Mathieu Darche.

Darche, 48, joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as their Director of Hockey Operations in 2019-20, winning two Stanley Cups with the franchise. In 2022-23, Tampa promoted him to Assistant General Manager, while retaining his previous title.

The Pittsburgh Penguins nearly hired Darche back in 2023, but when Kyle Dubas became available, Pittsburgh passed. Darche’s name continues to filter through as a candidate for vacancies, and some pinned the Islanders’ job as a landing spot.

Then, Elliotte Friedman discussed, at length, the idea of Co-GMs. Wait, what?

Co-GMs?

The idea of Co-GMs may sound great on paper. Double the brain power, two smart hockey people, it’s all good. In reality, it leads to both hires quitting and appointing your recently retired backup goaltender to the job.

Here’s what Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast:

“I did hear the rumor of Co-GMs, of Bergevin and Darche. There’s been a lot of craziness around this, so I don’t know how much stock I really put in that. But I would say this, though, that is a bad idea. A bad idea. The Islanders did this 20 years ago with Pat LaFontaine 20 years ago- it didn’t last very long. It’s just a bad idea.”

“It’s got nothing to do with the people you put in place. You have to have one decision maker…You have to have a clear delineation of power. There ultimately has to be one decision maker, with someone knowing the have the final say. You can’t split power. You can have two people there, that you say you believe in these two people. But there has to be clarity. Never split power. You have to have someone who ultimately has the right to make the final decision.”

That entire dialogue is disconcerting. Friedman is clear to say that it’s just a rumor, but if he’s discussing it at length, there’s at least some smoke to it.

Hiring two people for the same job and splitting the power, without anyone over their head aside from John Collins, would be disastrous. One common theme among all 31 other NHL General Managers is this: Passion. They have the passion and full belief in their decisions. Some then have a President of Hockey Operations above them to give a final sign-off, a very common practice when you have two candidates you like.

If the Islanders want to hire both Bergevin and Darche, their best bet is to make a call on one to be the President, and the other the General Manager.

So, Who Would Be President and GM?

Both have a ton of experience. The only difference, Bergevin served as a GM before. Darche served as an AGM and Director of Hockey Operations.

Bergevin, according to reports, The Islanders only interviewed him for the General Manager position. That should not be the case unless it’s his specification. He’s held enough pedigree and experience that he could take on the President of Hockey Operations for the Islanders and oversee the ship, steering the ultimate direction while Darche becomes a first-time GM.

Darche is ready to be a GM. With Bergevin’s guidance, it could become a very fruitful partnership. But that’s only if the Islanders make it clear there’s a boss, not splitting power.

That’s the way the Islanders need to proceed. If they feel that Bergevin and Darche are both checking all the boxes and are prepared to hire both, then it’s time to make Bergevin the President and Darche the General Manager.

Alternatively, choose one of two. It’s believed Bergevin may have slightly more support at this time. But it’s extremely close. Then, you can let the winner run his department, or bring in somebody like Brendan Shanahan to be the President. There are multiple viable solutions. None involve Co-GMs.