The New York Islanders named Patrick Roy as head coach on Saturday. The 58-year-old will replace Lane Lambert, who was relieved of his duties.
The Islanders will be at the Bell Center to face the Montreal Canadiens next Thursday, January 25. Roy will coach his first game Sunday night, against the Dallas Stars. Roy will have a very busy first week with four games to play in six days before the All-Star break.
“We won’t have time to savor this moment for too long,” explained the new head coach. We play tomorrow against the Stars, then against Vegas and in Montreal on Thursday. It will go very quickly. It’s the first time I’ve been in this position of replacing someone in the middle of the season. I look forward to sitting down with the coaching group and working with the players and helping the team win games. ”
Roy didn’t have to be asked to accept the Islanders’ offer after being approached by Lou Lamoriello.
“I loved my conversation with Lou. I was really impressed with how the organization works and how involved the owner is. It was important to work with a strong organization and see Lou’s passion. His desire to win came for me. It was impossible for me to refuse this experience. “
“I watched a few Islanders games and was very impressed with this group of players. I like the mix of veterans and young players. We have two good goalkeepers and good depth among attackers and defenders,” added Roy during availability via Zoom, late Saturday afternoon.
Patrick Roy is therefore making a return behind the bench of an NHL team for the first time since the 2015-2016 season, when he led the Colorado Avalanche. He concluded his tenure with a cumulative record of 130-92-24, after winning the Jack Adams Trophy as the best coach in 2013-2014.
“I met with Patrick recently and felt like this was the best direction for the future,” said Islanders president Lou Lamoriello, who cited his team’s inconsistency to justify the change at the position. of head coach.
Roy waited a long time for this new chance to lead an NHL team. Patience paid off for Roy who never lost hope that an offer would arrive from the Bettman circuit.
“I was trying not to worry too much about it. Today I’m in this position to become head coach of the Islanders and I’m excited about the idea. “
The famous goaltender retired from playing in 2003. Two years later, he would lead the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. He won the Memorial Cup with them through his two stints at the helm of the organization, interspersed with a stint in the NHL as coach.
A Hall of Fame inductee, Roy led the Avalanche to just one playoff appearance, in 2014, and his team was eliminated in the first round.
#Islands News: New York Islanders President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Lou Lamoriello announced today that Lane Lambert has been relieved of his coaching responsibilities. Patrick Roy has been named Head Coach of the New York Islanders.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders)
January 20, 2024
The Islanders have lost four straight and six of their last seven games. The team is not in position to make the playoffs at this time.
Lambert was midway through his second season with the club.
