Mathieu Darche’s first true crisis as New York Islanders general manager has arrived sooner than anyone hoped. Losing Alexander Romanov after shoulder surgery for up to six months was difficult enough. Learning that Kyle Palmieri has a torn ACL that will keep him out for 6 to 8 months is the kind of blow that can send a front office into panic mode. Two irreplaceable everyday players gone, one from the top four and one from the top six, in a season where every point matters inside a brutally tight Eastern Conference race.
But this is exactly the type of moment that requires Darche to stay committed to the long-term plan rather than react out of desperation.
Darche was hired to build a sustainable Stanley Cup contender, not a team constantly mortgaging the future to patch temporary holes. Trading key assets to fill the void left by Romanov or Palmieri might keep the Islanders afloat this season, but it would come at the cost of weakening the organization’s future. Romanov is a foundational defenseman, not a rental. Palmieri is a core all situations forward whose absence cannot truly be replaced by a rushed acquisition.
Nov 28, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Kyle Palmieri (21) falls to the ice after an injury against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images | Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Overpaying for midseason stopgaps would be a short-sighted reaction to unavoidable bad luck. The cost for defensemen and top six forwards skyrockets at this point in the year, and the Islanders cannot afford to move premium picks or top prospects to tread water. With two first-round picks in the 2026 NHL draft ahead and young pieces like Matthew Schaefer, Cal Ritchie, and Max Shabanov emerging, Darche must protect the pipeline he is trying to rebuild.
Patience is not inaction. It is a strategic choice. Internal options will get opportunities. Depth pieces will be tested. And if the right long-term deal appears, Darche will act. But forcing a move because of injuries would undermine the very foundation he is trying to build. The goal is not merely to survive this season. The goal is to build a roster capable of winning for years to come.