Isles Fix Podcast Network

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).

Chris and Joe are back to set the stage for what is set to be a seminal moment in the history of the New York Islanders. The consensus is that the Isles will select defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the consensus pick, with the top pick. That should and will be enough to make it a night of celebration for the franchise, but the weeks-long buzz about what else the Islanders may do to trade back into the 1st round or make a roster-shaking move looms as well.

There will be nothing to be disappointed about if the Islanders “only” take Schaefer and then enjoy the Draft Party at UBS Arena, but the fans have been primed for something else. Whether that happens tomorrow or in the days that follow will quickly fill the void of no longer having the anticipation of pick No.1.

Plus, we talk about the evaluation phase of Mathieu Darche’s first few weeks on the job and the tricky contract negotiation he faces with Noah Dobson that may lead to a homegrown defenseman being on the move. Also, lessons from past drafts, and Chris shares memories of the days that led up to Mike Milbury’s big gamble 25 years ago in drafting Rick DiPietro.

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Mathieu Darche made a good one on fans Thursday morning as John Collins formally introduced him as the team’s new GM and Executive VP in a rare pomp and circumstance event for the organization.

Chris and Joe discuss Darche's definitive answers in his media debut, including the biggest one: Patrick Roy will return, but this time, he will be able to choose his own staff. There are also big changes coming to Bridgeport, with a renewed emphasis on a winning environment for the team’s AHL affiliate.

We discuss Chris Lamoriello’s still undecided future, Darche’s view on having the 1st pick in the draft, and the extent of the changes we should see this summer.

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).

Our national (Long Island) wait is over. On Friday afternoon, the Islanders named Mathieu Darche their General Manager and Executive Vice President after a one-month search for Lou Lamoriello’s replacement. “Mathieu is the perfect choice to lead our hockey operations,” Operating Partner John Collins said. “He will be given every resource available to put the Islanders first-in-class on the ice, with our business initiatives, and in the community.”

The Islanders notably stated, “will manage all aspects of the team’s hockey operations” after being granted permission to speak to Brendan Shanahan earlier this week. Newsday beat reporter Andrew Gross later posted that the Islanders will not hire anyone above Darche.

The former Tampa Bay assistant GM brings an eclectic background in hockey and business that fits the moment for the Islanders and the ownership group.

It’s a new era on Long Island. We’ll see where and how far this one takes us.

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).

The Islanders’ search for Lou Lamoriello’s replacement(s) has reached the one-month mark and continues to evolve. On Thursday, the team got permission from the Maple Leafs to speak to team president Brendan Shanahan. The Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) is holding a board meeting on Thursday, and Shanahan’s future is expected to be on the agenda.

Meanwhile, Marc Bergevin and Mathieu Darche reportedly had their second interviews, but they are holding a pattern as John Collins and the rest of the Isles’ brass gauge Shanahan’s interest in coming to Long Island.

The search has been anything but boring, and it continues to unfold.

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix), joined by senior prospects writer for The Athletic, Corey Pronman (@coreypronman), to break down the top prospects in the 2025 NHL Draft Class and what the Islanders should do with the No. 1 overall pick.

Corey explains why James Hagens dropped from being his top prospect last year after his freshman year at Boston College. Is there any argument for the Islanders to take him with the first pick? Plus, how did Mathew Schaefer rise to the consensus top overall pick after only 17 OHL games this season, and did Michael Misa’s massive goal-scoring season make him the top forward in the class?

We also spend time on Cole Eiserman, Cal Ritchie, and other Islanders prospects that have the Islanders prospect rankings rising for the first time in years.

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).

Before Lou Lamoriello was spotted in a Buffalo airport, we hopped on to discuss the latest in the Islanders GM search, which *currently* appears focused on three candidates: Mathieu Darche, Jarmo Kekalainen, and Marc Bergevin.

Bergevin and Kekalainen come with experience, but that experience comes with blemishes, the byproduct of working in a profession where you are hired to be fired. Meanwhile, Darche has the sparkling pedigree and clean slate that has him atop most fans’ lists to coincide with a new era of Islanders hockey.

We also touch on the latest Lamoriello news. If he becomes an advisor to owner Scott Malkin, that’s the owner’s prerogative, but the sooner there is certainty around what that role is and what is not, the better. And if Lou ends up in Buffalo, or somewhere else in a similar role, that may be best for all involved.

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).

This time, the Isles’ GM search was supposed to be different, or at least normal. They would cast a wide net, speak to a variety of candidates, and have multiple rounds of interviews. Then, they would narrow their list before choosing the new President of Hockey Operations and/or GM.

Thus far, it’s been anything but normal. There have been some stumbles, and on Thursday, Arthur Staple reported that Lou Lamoriello could stay on as an advisor to a new General Manager. What? How? Why?

Lamoriello, under contract until June 30th, was expected to gracefully exit and make room for a fresh face and a new direction. Now, there’s at least some consideration that the Islanders are pivoting to a most unconventional setup in the wake of not having Plan A or B pan out, or at least that’s the perception.

The idea of having Lou stick around to guide a new, young GM may sound reasonable in theory, but it’s not practical, and sounds less than ideal for Mathieu Darche or anyone else stepping into the job for the first time.

This GM search has been amusing, confusing, and befuddling, but it’s also been fascinating, and we don’t know what will come next.

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).

The New York Islanders beat the odds and won the NHL Draft Lottery on Monday night in a stunning franchise-altering moment. The Isles had only a 3.5% chance of winning the top pick, but their chances improved with every ping-pong ball drawn until 13 proved to be the luckiest of numbers. 7-11-12-13 Forever.

We talk about what the lottery win means for the organization, and the options in front of them with the top selection Plus, Chris shares the latest he’s hearing on the Islanders GM search, which could be wrapping up faster than expected with a shorter list for John Collins to choose from, and a decision drawing near.

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).

The list of potential Islanders GMs is long, very long. In the last week, fans and media alike have speculated about a wide range and variety of candidates from Hall-of-Famers, to retreads, to popular Assistant GMs, and out-of-the-box options from around the league.

For the first time, possibly in their history, the Islanders are conducting a proper search for their general manager. The man in charge of that search is John Collins, and reports indicate there’s been no shortage of interest from qualified candidates around the league. It’s now the job of Collins to sift through the chatter and the noise and decide which candidates deserve a long look.

Plus, Chris and Joe comment on the organization letting go of radio broadcasters Chris King and Greg Picker, and the backlash response from the media and fan base. Is there still time for the team to reverse course? Joe then asks Chris where he was when Lanny McDonald broke the 1977-78 Islanders' hearts in overtime, which happened 47 years ago today at the Nassau Coliseum.

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).

What felt inevitable to some but unlikely to others happened on Tuesday afternoon when the Islanders announced that the contract of Hall of Fame executive Lou Lamoriello would not be renewed after seven seasons as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.

This type of change is significant for any team, but for the Islanders, it represents a seismic shift for the organization, both on and off the ice, due to how Lamoriello operated. He did things his way, and those methods instilled professionalism, credibility, and, yes, success that was missing before.

But the time was right for a change. After four mediocre at best seasons, the Islanders were not going to turn into Stanley Cup contenders over the summer. This wasn’t a one-year fix; it's now a multi-year plan, and that’s best for someone else with a fresh face, fresh eyes, and fresh ideas to take the franchise forward.

The fanbase was clamoring for ownership to show decisiveness, and that happened on Tuesday. Now, the search for the next GM to lead this organization into a new era of Islanders hockey begins.