Patrick Roy should be the head coach of the NY Islanders going forward
Patrick Roy’s debut season behind the bench for the New York Islanders didn’t unfold the way the Hall of Fame goaltender had hoped.
After guiding the Islanders on a dramatic late-season playoff push last year — clinching a spot in Game 81 — expectations were high for a return trip to the postseason. Instead, the team fell well short of that goal.
The Islanders ended the season with 82 points in 82 games, finishing nine points shy of the final Wild Card spot and trailing three other teams in the standings.
Roy deserves another season at the helm
As the offseason begins, Roy’s future with the team is in question, but is it fair to place him on the hot seat?
The Islanders’ season started off on the wrong foot when new acquisition Anthony Duclair suffered an early injury and never seemed to fully recover. The team’s health issues only worsened from there — nine players from the opening night roster ended up missing at least 10 games each.
Roy openly voiced his concerns with roster depth back in October after Duclair went down and the team brought in veteran Matt Martin.
“Right now, I mean, I won’t lie,” Roy said. “The spots number 11 and 12, we don’t feel comfortable yet with the guys, and we’re going to try until we find the guys that we are comfortable with.”
While Roy has a say in the lineup, ultimate personnel decisions rest with GM Lou Lamoriello. With key players like Mat Barzal sidelined for large portions of the season, a banged-up Duclair, and frequent absences on both sides of the blue line, Roy was often working with a depleted and constantly changing lineup — a tough situation for any coach to navigate.
Since taking over in January of last year, Roy hasn’t shown quite the same fiery demeanor that defined his coaching stint in Colorado. That edge is a core part of who he is — dating back to his playing days — and perhaps something the Islanders could still benefit from.
Roy brings a sharp hockey mind and a distinct style of play he wants his team to follow. But the constant lineup shuffling and lack of chemistry made it difficult to execute consistently.
If next season proves to be another major disappointment, then a coaching change could be justified. But given the circumstances this year, Roy deserves a clean slate and a healthier roster heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
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