The draft, which begins on Friday, June 29th, will mark the first time in 16 years the Isles got the top pick in the draft, the last in which they took centre John Tavares (2009).
Darch was hired in late May as the team's new GM in place of Lou Lamoriello, who spent the past seven years with the Islanders.
“I'm not trading the one, but you look at everything, right?” said Darch. “Teams are calling you about various options. Every time you hear something might be going on, you call a team, and my job is to do my due diligence and see what's out there. Every single day, I'm trying to improve the New York Islanders.”
New York won the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, jumping up from 10th, after they were given just a 3.5 percent chance of winning the top pick.
The other No. 1 picks in Islanders history include goalie Rick DiPietro (2000), defenceman Denis Potvin (1973), and forward Billy Harris (1972).
“I can't tell you all my secrets, but calling around and getting as much info is part of the job,” Darche said. “We all know the talent at this point. You’re researching more the character and personalities. You are just trying to get as much information. There's a few guys we like, and I do have an idea at this point, because it's in four days. But we're going to keep doing our due diligence all the way through Friday."
“I’m looking at everything,” said Darch in regard to possibly trading back into the first round. “If I have an opportunity that I feel … it depends. You want to move into the top 10, what does it cost you? If I feel the opportunity warrants that trade, I’ll try it. Or if it’s an opportunity to do something else to move the team, moving up in the draft with another pick, whether it’s acquiring another pick, whether it’s trading another pick to get a player, I’m looking at all options to improve our team.”
The remaining Islanders' picks include the following:
47th (second round)
74th (third round)
106th (fourth round)
138th (fifth round)
170th (sixth round)
202nd (seventh round)