While their play was inconsistent over the final four years of Lou Lamoriello’s reign, the New York Islanders still have one of the more attractive job openings in all of the NHL as John Collins leads the search for a new general manager.
Not only do they play a stone’s throw away from the largest sports market in North America, but they have foundational pieces to suggest the right kind of re-tool would restore a perennial contender.
Here are eight potential candidates that could be considered:
Ken Holland
Islanders majority owner Scott Malkin’s specialty is not hockey, so he brought in a Hall-of-Famer in Lamoriello to oversee the team’s day-to-day operations for the last seven years.
Holland would be able to assume a similar role at 69 years old, having won four Stanley Cups as the architect of the Detroit Red Wings from 1997 to 2019. He nearly nabbed a fifth ring last year with the Edmonton Oilers.
Marc Bergevin
The assistant GM of the Los Angeles Kings spent a decade as the GM of the Montreal Canadiens, the most prolific team in the NHL within one of the most intense hockey markets outside Toronto.
If Kings GM Rob Blake steps away this offseason, things could get tricky, but Bergevin played two years with the Islanders and could put his stamp on his old team.
Mathieu Darche
The 49-year-old was the man behind Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois, who built the closest thing to a dynasty the game has seen in 40 years.
Darche has been a popular name in recent GM searches, as he has advanced to multiple finalist interviews. It is only a matter of time before he gets his own gig.
Kate Madigan
Reports have already tabbed Madigan for an interview with the Islanders.
She is a fast riser, leaving the corporate world in 2017 to join the New Jersey Devils. Within five years, she took over as assistant general manager, where she has built a young and exciting team.
Brandon Pridham
Pridham has spent the last 11 years with the Maple Leafs following a 15-year stint with the league in central registry and central scouting. He has held the titles of special assistant and assistant GM in Toronto, where he has been utilized as a specialist in free agency and trade deadlines.
Kevin McDonald
From the Rangers’ communications department 30 years ago to the assistant GM of the powerhouse Colorado Avalanche, McDonald is known for his ability to identify talent. This could do the Islanders a world of good, considering their thin prospect pool.
Kevin Weekes
Perhaps the most intriguing name on this list is Weeks. He is a former goalie who played for the Islanders and has become a headline media personality on NHL Network and ESPN. He is well-connected and has a highly regarded hockey mind, and he has been interviewed for front-office roles in the past. He could become more of a hockey operations president and bring on a general manager.
Ryan Martin
Martin has experience in practically every facet needed to be a successful general manager. He was an assistant GM with the Red Wings for 10 years and is currently in the same title under Chris Drury with the Rangers. He previously held roles as GM of the Blueshirts’ AHL affiliate in Hartford and of Team USA at the 2022 World Championships.
