Mathieu Darche’s Islanders job only gets harder after making the No. 1 pick

LOS ANGELES — Even if the lottery balls numbered 7-11-12-13 had not fallen and the Islanders were going into Friday with the mid-first-round pick they were originally projected to have, this week would mark a critical test of Mathieu Darche as general manager. 

That those numbers instead came up to deliver the Islanders a No. 1 overall pick that can help change the course of their franchise only amplifies the pressure. 

It is one of Darche’s first decisions as general manager. 

Whether he is here for 20 years or two years, there’s a good chance it will be his most important.