When Mathieu Darche was named general manager of the New York Islanders, he emphasized that improving Bridgeport, the team’s AHL affiliate, would be a priority.
Bridgeport finished the 2024-25 season with a 15-50-4-3 record, the worst in the AHL.
Following the first day of free agency, Darche has already taken steps to improve Bridgeport’s roster.
Up front, he signed center Matthew Highmore, a veteran of 197 total NHL games.
More importantly, he bolstered a defense that conceded 294 goals, 43 higher than the next-worst AHL team, by bringing in Ethan Bear and Cole McWard.
All three players were signed to one-year, two-way contracts.
Darche also handed out one-year, AHL contracts to forwards Chris Terry, Max Dorrington, Cam Berg, Ross Mitton, and Hunter Drew, as well as defenseman Luke Rowe.
Terry, Dorrington, Berg, and Mitton were all with Bridgeport for all or parts of the 2024-25 season, while Drew and Rowe are new.
In addition to the player signings, Darche overhauled Bridgeport’s coaching staff, bringing in Rocky Thompson, a former NHLer and assistant coach under John Tortorella in Philadelphia, as the new head coach.
Rocky Thompson's Plan To Building A Winning Culture In BridgeportLOS ANGELES -- On Thursday afternoon, Bridgeport Islanders head coach Rocky Thompson addressed the media for the first time since the New York Islanders announced his hiring on June 23.
Although meaningful hockey is still months away, the Islanders’ focus on Bridgeport is a reason for optimism.
The AHL club already features several of the organization’s top prospects in Calle Odelius, Jesse Pulkkinen, Alex Jefferies, and Matthew Maggio, and will be home to current college and junior players entering the pro level in the coming years.
“I think we have the better team this season,” Pulkkinnen told The Hockey News. “Because we have the good young guys. And, yeah, I think this is the good team next season.”
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Michael Ostrower wrote this story.
PHOTO: Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images