Darche, who played a major behind-the-scenes role in helping to establish the Lightning as one of the league’s top organizations, will have a chance to build a winner front and center on Long Island.

Darche will manage all aspects of the Islanders' hockey operations in his first NHL GM job, which suggests the team won't hire a president of hockey operations for now.

Darche won two Stanley Cups during his stint in Tampa Bay, and in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the Lightning defeated the Islanders in the conference finals.