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Mathieu Darche really came out of nowhere.
I understand he had a lot of duties in Tampa Bay, but he was never a GM in the NHL. And one of the criteria the Islanders’ owners were looking for was experience in the field.
So, yes, the Québécois came out of nowhere and stole the job from Jarmo Kekalainen and Marc Bergevin.
But it’s important to note that he wasn’t the first choice, or even the second.
According to Elliotte Friedman on the Real Kyper & Bourne podcast , Jeff Gorton would have been the choice had he been available, and Ken Holland turned the job down.
Friedman On Real Kyper & Bourne talking Darche hiring: “Darche came out of nowhere to win that job, at the beginning there was no way they were hiring someone with no experience, but Darche, he won that job”
Kypreos: “Holland turned it down though, he had the job first”
– NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 2, 2025
The Habs executive, who continues to attract eyeballs across the NHL, was closely linked to the Islanders early on in the process.
But fortunately, Geoff Molson didn’t let his man go. Gorton is very important to the Habs and it’s about time the club treated him the right way.
Still, we must give credit where credit is due: he was more impressive in interviews than Bergevin and Kekalainen, who have a much more colorful background than Darche.
Bergevin, who almost had a job in New York too, is still in Los Angeles, and the Finn has found work in Buffalo as a senior advisor to GM Kevyn Adams.
The Islanders’ new boss has just been named, and already he has to work on the draft, which will take place at the end of the month. He and his team have been given a gift from heaven and will be drafting at the very top. Less than two months after his hiring, he’ll be faced with a decision that could completely change his franchise.
The free agent period will begin a few days later, and many of his new employees will be out of contract.
I’m thinking of Noah Dobson, Simon Holmstrom, Alexander Romanov and Maxim Tsyplakov, who will be restricted free agents.
A big summer ahead, in any case. I hope he’s ready.
Overtime
– He won’t even be playing there next year.
BREAKING
–
Wildcast Podcast
(@MonctonWildcast) June 2, 2025
– Ah good.
The Lightning offered pending UFA Alex Killorn 8 years x $2.5M AAV a few years ago before he left for Anaheim. So they’re been on this approach before but got it to work today with Gourde as CJ explains here
https://t.co/4QTiZMsd4V
– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 2, 2025
– Minnesota contract.
Marcus Johansson has signed a one-year contract to remain with the Wildhttps://t.co/FFPJ1K8fDR
– RDS (@RDSca) June 2, 2025
– Québécois leaves for the university ranks.
Mathis Rousseau is officially a Black Bear
#BlackBearNation // #JourneyNorth pic.twitter.com/nwecZ95pcH
– Maine Men’s Ice Hockey (@MaineIceHockey) June 2, 2025
– Absolutely.
Quebec can dream
https://t.co/KMeUDbZR2u
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) June 2, 2025
– Good.
On Real Kyper and Bourne, Elliotte Friedman said he believes the NHL’s new centralized draft format will last only one year, with the league expected to return to the traditional format in June 2026, says everyone realizes this was a mistake.
– NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 2, 2025
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TODAY'S BEST
Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
Maple Leafs Rumoured to Be Targeting Star Centre From Conference Rival
The Maple Leafs are in need of a major upgrade in their top-six, and now Jay Rosehill has noted Rangers' Vincent Trocheck as a trade candidate for Brad Treliving. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been busy this off-season, adding some intriguing forwards in Matias Macceli and Dakota Joshua while retaining John Tavares as they look to go one or two steps further in the post-season moving forward. However, despite all of this movement, the belief is still that this team is ready to take a big swing in the coming months on the trade market, with several big name candidates out there that could improve their top-six. Now, former Maple Leaf Jay Rosehill has weighed in, suggesting a very intriguing name that General Manager Brad Treliving could target ahead of the 2026 trade deadline. 'Another guy is Vincent Trocheck. He's 32 years old, so he's got the experience. I just think that you put him in this lineup, he would fit. It's like there's kind of a big missing piece in this forward group, kind of in that middle-six type of deal. And to fill it with a high-end guy like Trocheck, it would just be like, the balance would just be humming.' Over the past three years in New York, Trocheck has tallied 64, 77 and 59 points, and given the two-way game that he plays and the leadership that he brings, the 32-year old would be a massive upgrade in Toronto's top-six, whether he remains at the centre position or moves to the wing. Ultimately, the Maple Leafs have the issue of lacking assets to make a big move, so a player like Trocheck could potentially be in their range, and while they've still got plenty of talent, it's clear that this team needs an upgrade to be a true contender, with Trocheck a fantastic option if he truly is available.
Steelers reporter shares big claim about how Aaron Rodgers has looked in training camp
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the bulk of the spring as an unsigned free agent and, thus, only began officially practicing with Pittsburgh Steelers teammates during the team's three-day mandatory minicamp in June. During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed how Rodgers looked during his first few training camp practices with the club. "His release is just astonishing to watch," Dulac said about Rodgers, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "Everybody knows about it, and when you see it in person, you see it every day in practice, you just marvel at it. To me, he's the greatest thrower of the football I have ever seen, even at 41 (years old). That flick of that wrist and that ball comes out, it's moving and it is something to see." Rodgers was with the New York Jets when he suffered a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the 2023 regular-season opener. He was then slowed by a nagging hip issue, injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain and a serious hamstring problem as the 2024 Jets went 5-12. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers finished last season ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 43.9 percent passing success rate. That said, he was also eighth with 3,897 passing yards and tied for seventh with 28 passing touchdowns. Rodgers and Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson endured some struggles during training camp sessions last summer before the two allegedly "never saw eye-to-eye" during the season. It sounds like Pittsburgh fans should be encouraged by how Rodgers performed in recent practices. "That guy can get rid of the ball as quick as anybody," Dulac added. "He made three throws in seven-on-seven (drills) the other day that the cumulative total I bet couldn't have exceeded 2.1 seconds. And two of those were for touchdowns." Rodgers wants to finish his career "the right way" and help the Steelers notch at least their first playoff win since January 2017. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh at -150 betting odds to miss the playoffs for the upcoming season.
Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg dies after battle with cancer
Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg lost his battle with cancer on Monday. He was 65. A 20th-round selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1978 MLB Draft, Sandberg quickly moved through the Phillies system despite his humble beginnings. He made his major league debut at the end of the 1981 season, getting six plate appearances in 13 games, his only hit coming off of a bat he borrowed from shortstop Larry Bowa. Drafted as a shortstop, the Phillies hoped that Sandberg would be the heir apparent for Bowa. However, that 13-game stint convinced the Phillies that he was not the answer. Although Sandberg had played at second and third as well in the minors, he was blocked at those positions by Manny Trillo and Mike Schmidt respectively. Bowa and Sandberg were traded to the Cubs during the 1981-82 offseason, with shortstop Ivan DeJesus heading to Philadelphia. Sandberg, now a second baseman, had a solid first two seasons in Chicago before exploding into stardom in 1984. He posted a .314/.367/.520 batting line in his 700 plate appearances, hitting 19 homers and 36 doubles while stealing 32 bases as he led the Cubs to their first postseason berth since 1945. Sandberg made his first All-Star Game, was named the NL MVP, won a Silver Slugger and his second Gold Glove award. A perennial All-Star, Sandberg possessed a combination of power and speed at second base that was rare for his era. He was a 10-time All-Star, winning nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers. Sandberg posted a lifetime .285/.344/.452 batting line in his 9282 plate appearances, hitting 282 homers and 403 doubles while stealing 344 bases. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame 2005 in his third year on the ballot. After a decade away from the game, Sandberg returned as a minor league manager in the Cubs system in 2007, moving up the ladder to Triple-A in 2009. After Cubs manager Mike Quade was fired, and Sandberg was passed over for the opening, he joined the Phillies organization in 2011. After three years in the Phillies organization, he became the interim manager in 2013, and was eventually hired full-time at the end of the season. Sandberg lasted just over two years in total as the Phillies manager, resigning after 74 games in 2015 as the losses piled up. He remained in the game as a goodwill ambassador for the Cubs before announcing that he had prostate cancer in 2024. Although his cancer had gone into remission, it returned in December, spreading to other organs before Sandberg ultimately lost his battle. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Sandberg during this difficult time.
Cubs in danger of making enormous trade-deadline mistake
Boasting a 62-44 record in the NL Central, the Chicago Cubs are still searching for a way to pull ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers took sole possession of first place in the division from the Cubs in an 8-4 win on Monday. Chicago will get its chance before the three-game set is over, but if the Cubs should fall to the Brewers, the trade deadline will be viewed as essential for their World Series chances. Several rumors of Chicago’s interest in starters, relievers and third basemen have swirled nonstop. And while they have shown interest in several quality names — Mitch Keller, Eugenio Suárez, MacKenzie Gore — some of their other trade targets are less than ideal. Among their worst sources of interest (if not, the worst) is struggling Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias, who is in his walk year. Hiding behind his shining 2.99 career ERA is a rather shocking, career-high 4.97 ERA, to which he has pitched this season. He is still a strikeout pitcher, having accumulated 46 Ks in 41.2 innings, but his run prevention capabilities have seemingly deteriorated. It was only last season when Iglesias posted a stellar 1.95 ERA. Since then, his home run total doubled, from surrendering just four last year to eight so far this year. His opponent batting average has also jumped, from .160 to .250. Iglesias is no stranger to success. He threw to ERAs south of 3.00 in eight of his 11 MLB years. However, this season, he just doesn’t appear to have it. Any team that trades for Iglesias in the last year of his contract would be betting that he can return to elite form before the season is over. Taking a risk on a pitcher like Iglesias in his current condition, especially when there are several other more reliable arms on the market, would be ill-advised. And for the Cubs, who are in a win-now position, having secured one guaranteed year of Kyle Tucker, taking a gamble on Iglesias could easily risk everything they worked for this season.
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