Patrick Roy is the new coach of the New York Islanders, hired Saturday in a stunning midseason change behind the bench that came with the firing of Lane Lambert.
President of hockey operations and general manager Lou Lamoriello announced the move to dismiss Lambert and bring in Roy, who hasn’t coached in the NHL in nearly a decade. Roy has been mentioned in consideration for several vacancies since and now gets a second chance.
“Watching our team play, I felt that the inconsistency that has been going on for some period of time was not going to end,” Lamoriello said on a video call with reporters. “When I had the opportunity to meet with Patrick recently, I felt that this was the best for our organization to go forward.”
The Islanders have lost four games in a row and six of seven to fall out of a playoff spot. Lamoriello, 81, said he made the move because he still believes his team can contend and earn a spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Lambert was midway through his second season on the job. Roy coached the Colorado Avalanche for three seasons from 2013-16 before abruptly resigning a month before training camp.
Roy, 58, said that in his time away from the NHL, he has learned a lot about the value of coaching staffs working to help players improve.
The four-time Stanley Cup champion who is third on the career NHL wins list among goalies won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2013-14 after guiding the Avalanche to the playoffs.
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