"The first season of the Mathieu Darche era on Long Island has gone pretty well. Through 48 games this season, the Islanders are 26-17-5 and are in second in the Metro Division. He also made arguably the best pick in the 2025 draft, as Matthew Schaffer has been the most impactful rookie and is the current favorite to win the Calder Trophy. It looks like good things are ahead for the Islanders with Darche at the helm."
"However, the most impressive accomplishment may be the performance of their AHL team, the Bridgeport Islanders. They are currently in the middle of a five-game winning streak and have a record of 17-17-2. Their 17 wins are two more than they had all of last season, and they still have 35 games to play. It's clear that the new regime has put an emphasis on Bridgeport's success."
"Over the past few seasons, Bridgeport had been one of the biggest jokes in the AHL. They have failed to make the playoffs in the past three seasons and have routinely been among the bottom teams in the Atlantic Division. However, last season saw the team reach new lows. They had a record of 15-50-4 and looked non-competitive in most games. They also had only 4 home wins, the fewest in AHL history."
Mathieu Darche’s first season on Long Island has the Islanders at 26-17-5 through 48 games and second in the Metropolitan Division. Matthew Schaffer, the 2025 draft pick, has become the most impactful rookie and leads Calder Trophy consideration. The Bridgeport Islanders are on a five-game winning streak with a 17-17-2 record, surpassing last season's total wins despite 35 games remaining. Bridgeport endured a 15-50-4 collapse last season with only four home wins, creating a negative development environment. The current .500 improvement reflects a new organizational emphasis on AHL success that should aid prospect development and depth.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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