Patrick Roy will not even have had time to finish his sabbatical year away from hockey: the New York Islanders named him head coach of their team on Saturday, after dismissing Lane Lambert.
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“I knew Patrick as a player, but also as a coach in Colorado,” explained Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello. He has an impressive presence and what he has done recently, returning to the junior ranks and the success he has had there, as well as developing players, has always stuck in my mind. When I spoke to him, I knew he was the right person. When you make this kind of decision, you have to make sure you have the right candidate and that’s the feeling I had with Patrick.
Asked if he had interviewed other candidates, the experienced hockey man was categorical: “Patrick is the only person we wanted and that’s why we are here today.”
A return after more than seven years
It is therefore a return behind the bench of an NHL team for Roy, who left the Colorado Avalanche in 2016. On a few occasions, since his departure from Denver, he had admitted that the way with which he had left – he had announced his departure in August, a few weeks before the start of camps – had harmed him in his quest to return to the NHL.
He ultimately had to wait a little more than seven years, five of which he used to perfect his coaching skills with the Quebec Remparts, before getting a second chance.
“It means a lot to me. When I left Colorado, I thought the phone would ring sooner. I am aware that the way I left Colorado was not the best way to go. I am proud to have returned to the junior ranks, to have worked with these young people, to have recharged my batteries and to have adjusted to the new generation. I wasn’t unhappy on the golf course, but when I got that call [celui de Lou Lamoriello]I couldn’t say no.”
Roy believes he is a completely different coach than the one who left the Avalanche in August 2016.
“It’s day and night,” he assured. I think the thing I learned in my two years away from hockey and the five at the junior level is that I respect the coaching profession even more, to arrive early at the rink, to work strong to help players and bring them new ideas. What I want to do is establish a partnership with the players, like what I did in Colorado.
A management position?
With the Avalanche, Roy not only held the position of head coach, but also that of vice-president of hockey operations. And that’s a bit what caused his downfall.
Moreover, he was clear on Saturday during his first press briefing as head coach of the Islanders: he has no interest in a management position. On Long Island, he will be the coach of the Islanders, no more, no less.
“When I took the job in Colorado, I was perhaps a little dreamy to think that I could combine both functions. Today, it is impossible. I will have a lot of time to take care of the players, the team, relations with the media.
For now, the Islanders have not announced any other personnel moves. This means that John Houda and Paul MacLean remain assistant coaches. Asked about his intentions to recommend or not the hiring of certain people with whom he worked in the past, as he had done in Colorado by notably bringing with him André Tourigny, Roy did not want to come forward too much.
“For the moment, it’s the status quo and we’ll see if there are any adjustments to be made.”
Roy won’t have time to be idle, since the Islanders will be in action on Sunday evening, while the Dallas Stars will be in town. Note that the Islanders will be at the Bell Center next Thursday to face the Canadian.
TVA Sports will present Roy’s first game at the helm of the Islanders, Sunday evening, starting at 7 p.m.