Quebecer Mathieu Darche would not be the next general manager of the Vancouver Canucks. The British Columbia organization would have set its sights on Patrik Allvin.
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Several sources, including the Sportsnet network, have spread the news, which would be officially announced on Wednesday.
Allvin already shared ties with Jim Rutherford, the current president of hockey operations for the Canucks, since the two men had worked together with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rutherford was then GM and Allvin his deputy.
It is therefore a complete overhaul of the senior management of the Canucks, since Monday, the former player agent Emilie Castonguay had been hired as assistant to the GM.
Another disappointment for Darche
It is therefore a second post of general manager that escapes Darche. The Montreal native was considered by the Montreal Canadiens before the job was offered to Kent Hughes. According to The Athletic website, Darche was also in the group of five finalists to occupy this position in Vancouver.
This means that the former player will continue to play his role as adviser to the DG of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Julien BriseBois, whom he has been supporting since 2019. He has thus been in the front row to see the Florida club won the last two Stanley Cup Finals, the last of which was against the Habs. He is also a graduate of McGill University in administration with a major in marketing.
Never drafted, Darche played 250 games in the National Hockey League (NHL), including 149 with the Canadiens. He totaled 30 goals and 72 points during his career which spanned from 2000 to 2012. He also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks and Lightning.
Darche was not the only former CH to be part of the Canucks’ short list. Habs director of goaltending Sean Burke, as well as Marc Bergevin’s former right-hand man in Montreal Scott Mellanby, were also considered.