Mathieu Darche was hired as general manager and executive vice president of the New York Islanders on Friday. The 48-year-old replaces Lou Lamoriello, who the Islanders announced April 22 would not have his contract renewed as president and general manager.

TAMPA — It’s been several years since Mathieu Darche first emerged as a candidate to become an NHL general manager. As the Lightning’s assistant GM and director of hockey operations, he has been Julien BriseBois’ right-hand man in leading the team’s hockey operations department.

The New York Islanders hired Mathieu Darche as their general manager Friday, giving the two-time Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning assistant his long-awaited first chance to run an NHL team. Darche was named executive vice president and GM and put in charge of the organization's hockey operations department.