ELMONT, NEW YORK | Contrary to what he had mentioned from the outset, Patrick Roy would like to attract with him hockey men with whom he worked in Quebec, starting with his assistant for the last five seasons with the Remparts, Benoit Desrosiers.
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In the morning, Monday, colleague Stéphane Leroux reported that Desrosiers was going to join Roy on Long Island.
Hours later, the Islanders released a statement mentioning that “Desrosiers has not been hired by the Islanders. President and CEO Lou Lamoriello would like to meet him in the future.”
Clearly, there is no smoke without fire. According to what has been learned, Desrosiers was one of the few conditions imposed on Lou Lamoriello by Patrick Roy when he agreed to join the New York Islanders.
THE Newspaper had spoken with Desrosiers, now head coach of the Gatineau Olympics, during the day on Sunday and he had never hinted at anything. However, he said he was interested in the idea of joining Roy on Long Island.
“It’s every hockey man’s dream to reach the NHL. For my part, I always let things go. I continue to take care of my team in Gatineau and I do not intend to create a distraction with that,” he said.
At press time, neither theOlympics nor Desrosiers had made any comments.
Video trainer?
Desrosiers, 35, was hired by the Remparts at the time of Philippe Boucher, who emphasized his qualities as a video coach, in 2017.
Patrick Roy decided to keep him with him when he arrived, during the 2018-2019 season. He remained with the team during Roy’s five years with the Remparts.
After the departure of Roy last June, and the hiring of Éric Veilleux, Desrosiers accepted the position of head coach of the Gatineau Olympics. According to RDS, it is the current general director of theOlympics, Serge Beausoleil, who would replace Desrosiers behind the bench of the Outaouais team.
In November 2021, Desrosiers told the Journal that he aspired to move up in the NHL and that the position of video coach was perhaps the best path for him.
Like in Colorado
Seeing Roy bring someone close to him with whom he worked in the QMJHL would not be a surprise. In 2013, after accepting the position of head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, he hired André Tourigny and Mario Duhamel, the first as assistant and the second as video coach.
Questioned on this subject by the Journal during the press briefing following the announcement of his signing with the Islanders, Roy did not want to discuss the possibility that he would bring with him trusted people to support him.