New York Islanders New Coaching Era
On Saturday the New York Islanders gave Patrick Roy a new shot at NHL management after firing Lou Lamoriello. Patrick Roy has had his fair share of coaching NHL teams in the past few years. He spent three seasons coaching the Colorado Avalanche between 2013 and 2016. In his first year of coaching ten years ago, he put up a record of 130-92-24 for a .577 points percentage and even proceeded to win the Jack Adams award.
Through his first three years, he only had one playoff experience with the Avalanche. It ended with a seven-game loss against the Minnesota Wild and it was also his only playoff appearance with the team in three years. He then decided after coaching the Avalanche for three years that “he would not return, stating that he didn’t have enough ‘say in the decisions that impact the team's performance’” (Schram).
Image via Imago and Eyes On Isles
Roy then proceeded to take a two-year hiatus from hockey before returning to the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was previously a team owner, as well as, a head coach and a general manager of the Remparts. He then spent 5 years with the team and won the 2023 Memorial Cup last year. He was then looking to get back into his old NHL roots and the Islanders gave him that chance this weekend, at the expense of the old coach Lane Lambert.
Provided by The Associated Press – Sports
The Islanders were amid a four-game losing streak when they decided to go through with this coaching change. We will see if this coaching change will turn their season around starting with the game tonight against the Dallas Stars.